Two more students charged in mascot abuse case

LAS VEGAS - Two more high school football players were charged Wednesday for their role in the kidnapping and abuse of another high school's mascot.

Police say Douglas Anthony Stumpf, 18, had his pit bull, Rose, fight Blu, an English bulldog who serves as Centennial High School's mascot, at an elementary school while a group of Mojave High School students watched.

Blu was kidnapped from his owner's back yard Sept. 27, the night before the division rivals were to play each other in football. Blu was forced to fight the pit bull, then left chained to a stake on the 50-yard line of Centennial's football field.

A school staff member found the bleeding dog the next morning. Blu had such severe injuries, she initially wasn't expected to survive.

Stumpf was charged with conspiracy to commit theft, felony theft, instigating a fight between animals, maiming an animal and injuring or abandoning an animal.

Richard Christopher McDonald, also 18, was charged with witnessing a fight between animals.

''What happened here is a high school prank that went bad,'' police Capt. Rick Bilyeu said Wednesday.

Five other Mojave football players were arrested last week - accused of taking part either in kidnapping the 20-month-old Blu or in the dogfight. Four other juvenile Mojave students were cited Wednesday for witnessing the dogfight.

An assistant football coach, Steve Gresh, was questioned in the case, but Chief Deputy District Attorney Ronald Bloxham said there was not enough evidence to charge Gresh.

Stumpf apparently had another pit bull at the dog fight. Both dogs were taken by animal control to a shelter in North Las Vegas. Animal control officials will determine whether they should be euthanized.

The students could also face punishment in the school system.

Blu is recovering from her injuries and probably will be on the sidelines at this week's football game.