ALERT - Second Atlanta Falcons Player! - Animal cruelty killed Pit Bull

Another Atlanta Falcons Player Faces Animal Cruelty Charges

Urge prosecutor to seek maximum penalty for Jonathan Babineaux

The indictment of NFL quarterback Michael Vick for dogfighting has made international headlines , but he ' s not the only Atlanta Falcons player facing animal cruelty charges. Back in February 2007 , authorities accused Vick ' s teammate Jonathan Babineaux of killing his girlfriend ' s pit bull mix Kilo , who died from severe head trauma. Perhaps because Babineaux is less famous than Vick—he is a defensive tackle filling in for an injured player—and because the case involves the death of only one dog , this story has not received very much coverage in the media.

Authorities claim Babineaux killed Kilo by smashing his head in after an argument with Kilo ' s guardian , Babineaux ' s girlfriend Blair Anderson. Babineaux claims the death was unintentional , because a dog trainer instructed him to swing Kilo by his leash if he acted aggressively , and that he accidentally slammed the dog ' s head into a wall while doing so. Soon after his arrest , police released Babineaux on $2 , 300 bail , and he now faces felony charges of animal cruelty. A conviction could send him to prison for up to five years and cost him $15 , 000 in fines.

With two players facing animal cruelty charges , the Falcons are becoming known as a franchise that tolerates brutality against dogs -- especially because the team has taken no action. Babineaux played in the Falcon ' s season opener on Sunday , September 9th , and the team has made no move thus far to suspend him pending the outcome of his trial. Michael Vick is not playing for the Falcons at this time because he has been indefinitely suspended from the NFL. However , the Falcons refuse to kick him off the team , even though he has pleaded guilty to the charges against him. If convicted of dogfighting , he could be banned from the league for life.

What You Can Do

Please contact District Attorney Danny Porter and politely encourage him to prosecution Jonathan Babineaux to the fullest extent of the law if he is found guilty of animal cruelty for Kilo ' s death.

Gwinnett County District Attorney
Danny J. Porter
Gwinnett Co. Justice & Admin Center
75 Langley Drive
Lawrenceville , Georgia 30045
Tel: (770) 822-8400
Fax: (770) 822-8465
Website: www.co.gwinnett. ga.us