BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. — A Cane Bay couple accused of running a dog‑fighting operation out of their home is now in custody after a tip from a concerned citizen led deputies to their location, Sheriff Duane Lewis announced Thursday.
Anthony Juedell Banks, 48, and Nicole Lasean Boyd, 46, both of Bering Lane in the Meridian neighborhood of Cane Bay, were arrested following an investigation into animal cruelty and illegal dog fighting.
Deputies first responded to the couple’s home on April 29 after neighbors reported a foul odor coming from the residence.
Conditions inside prompted investigators to obtain a search warrant.
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Inside the home, deputies found 15 dogs confined in crates without access to water.
The crates were filled with urine and feces, according to the sheriff’s office. Berkeley County Animal Control removed all 15 dogs from the home.
As investigators processed the scene, they uncovered evidence indicating the dogs were being used for dog fighting. Deputies later issued a BOLO for Banks and Boyd, who were not at the residence during the search.
Their arrest came after a citizen called the sheriff’s office tip line to report the couple’s location, allowing deputies to take them into custody without incident.
Banks and Boyd each face 15 counts of ill treatment to animals and six counts of baiting animal fighting.
Dogfighting is classified as a felony in South Carolina under the Animal Fighting and Baiting Act.
Penalties can include fines of up to $5,000 or up to 5 years in prison, or both.
The investigation remains active.
