DA: Anthony Reddick gets prison time after 13 pit bulls die in garage fire

A Freeport man who pleaded guilty last month to animal fighting-related charges after the discovery of 13 pit bulls that died in a February garage fire was sentenced Monday to 1 to 3 years in prison, authorities said.

Anthony Reddick, 53, also "will be prohibited from owning any other animals for a period of 15 years," the Nassau County district attorney's office said in a news release.

Nassau County Court Judge David Sullivan handed down the sentence after prosecutors said they requested the maximum sentence of 1 1/3 years to 4 years in prison. The judge also ordered Reddick to forfeit three dogs authorities found alive at the property, prosecutors said.

Reddick had pleaded guilty to two felony counts connected to breeding and training dogs for fighting. He also pleaded guilty to 19 misdemeanors related to keeping animals for fighting, and having training equipment for animal fighting.

Firefighters and police found the dead dogs and dogfighting paraphernalia at a Hillside Avenue fire that authorities said didn't seem suspicious. Reddick lived in a basement apartment on the same property.

"I wasn't fighting them," he said of the dogs in court Aug. 25 as authorities led him away in handcuffs. He declined to comment further.