A jury found Clinton Bartell Schneider, 43, guilty of dog fighting Wednesday.

In 2005, Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies reportedly found 43 dogs, some of them with cuts and scars, at Schneider’s property, along with equipment used to train dogs for fighting.

State law classifies fighting dogs as contraband, so they had to be euthanized, witnesses said.

A stack of photographs and pictures were shown to the jury as evidence, including a poster with the name of Schneider’s business, showing one dog biting another and drawing blood, apparently fighting.

Other evidence included plastic barrels used for doghouses and rough treadmills reportedly used to train the dogs, building up their stamina so they could fight longer.

His fiancé, Amber Wallace, was charged with the same, but the jury found her not guilty.

In his closing arguments, defense attorney Robert Malone said his client was deprived of his livelihood — dog breeding and keeping a kennel — when the dogs were put to sleep.

Schneider may have participated in dog fights in the past, Malone said, but that did not mean he still did.

“He may very well be guilty of not having very good taste,” Malone said.

“It just shows what he had — a love of the breed. He loves the breed.”

Assistant District Attorney Brad Burget gave an impassioned closing argument.

“It’s a damned thing, the law,” Burget said.

“It applies to everybody, even dog fighters.”

Once the jury was in deliberation, Malone asked for a mistrial because, he said, Burget misrepresented some evidence in his closing argument.

Judge Leo Boothe said he did not think it was critical to the heart of the trial and denied a mistrial.

“I was pleased with Ms. Wallace’s not guilty verdict,” Morace said after the trial.

“But it did not surprise me, Mr. Schneider’s guilty verdict. That seems to happen more and more around here.”

Morace said he would appeal Schneider’s verdict.

Burget said he was happy with how the trial turned out.

“We are very pleased with the outcome of the trial,” he said.

“The main focus for us was Mr. Schneider. We’re very pleased with the jury’s decision.”