Former Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Isaiah Buggs has been convicted of two counts of animal cruelty.
Judge Joanne Jannik last week sentenced Buggs to one year of hard labor, of which he was to serve 60 days. The remainder was to be suspended for two years “pending the defendant’s conduct.” Buggs has said he will appeal his conviction.
The 27-year-old is also not allowed to possess or be near firearms, nor is he allowed to own dogs or cats.
The Chiefs released Buggs on June 24, eight days after his second recent arrest in Alabama. He was being held on a domestic violence/burglary charge and released on $5,000 bail, according to Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office records.
The animal cruelty charges came after Tuscaloosa police officers found two dogs that were “severely malnourished” and “emaciated” at a home Buggs was renting, according to court documents. The court documents said a neighbor said the dogs had been left there for at least 10 days and had no access to food or water. One of the dogs was eventually euthanized. Witnesses said Buggs had moved out of the home a week before officers found the dogs.
Buggs’ agent, Trey Robinson, released a statement saying the dogs did not belong to the player. Robinson said Buggs was unaware they were still on the property and was the target of a “subversive campaign” to shut down a hookah lounge he owns.
The defensive tackle played college football for Alabama and spent three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers before spending two years with the Detroit Lions. He has started 23 games and appeared in 56 in his career, with 89 tackles and two sacks. He signed a $1.3 million contract with Kansas City for the upcoming season.