Twelve suspects have been charged for their alleged involvement in a local dogfighting ring that was connected to the biggest dog rescue in U.S. history last July. Twenty-three felony counts, nearly all for dogfighting, were filed Friday by Warren County Prosecuting Attorney Mike Wright. He acknowledged this was likely the first time in his 20 years in office that he has filed these types of charges. The four local suspects identified were Tonya Sue Hitchcock, 30, of Wright City; Stacy Jean Chandler, 35, and Johnny Reynolds, 33, both of Warrenton; and Victory Harold Schone, 31, of Wright City. A probable cause statement filed in court alleges that multiple dogfights were staged in 2008 and 2009 at Dayress Sydnor and Hitchcock's residence at 29519 Highway J and at Reynolds' and Chandler's residence at 19134 Quarry Road. A July 26, 2008, dogfight at the Quarry Road residence involved a dog owned by Jack Ruppel, 35, of Eldon, who was one of the five initial suspects to be identified in a federal indictment in July, the probable cause statement states. Ruppel's dog lost a fight to a second dog owned by an Oklahoma man. Ruppel pleaded guilty for his involvement and was sentenced in March to 16 months in federal prison. The alleged dogfighting ring was discovered by confidential informants working for state and federal agencies during a multistate investigation that lasted more than a year. The local charges came 10 months after dozens of pit bull terriers were seized from at least three Warren County properties, two of which were located on Mark Petersen Lane south of Innsbrook, according to Warren County Sheriff Kevin Harrison. More than 150 dogs were rescued in multiple raids conducted in eastern Missouri in July. In all, authorities seized more than 400 dogs following investigations elsewhere, including Illinois, Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa and Mississippi. The other suspects who are facing local charges are: Brandon Williams, 37, Palmyra; Juan Shepard, 39, St. Louis; Ronald Christopher Nall, 43, St. Louis; Ceasar M. Hickman, 35, Rock Island, Ill.; Mahopela O. Allen, 37, Ferguson; William A. Berry, 35, Washington Park, Ill.; Keith Hayden, 36, Ferguson; and Ronald A. Waddell, 26, St. Louis. Each suspect allegedly had a dog involved in the fights. Waddell also was the lone suspect to be charged with one felony count of first-degree gambling. According to the probable cause statement, Waddell provided $500 for a $1,500 bet on a dog owned by Sydnor during a Nov. 5, 2008, gathering at Sydnor's residence. The dog won the fight and Waddell won an additional $500. The punishment for conviction of dogfighting, a Class D felony, ranges from one year in the county jail to one to four years in prison or a fine to not exceed $5,000, according to Wright. Harrison said anywhere from 20 to 30 dogs were at the 23060 Mark Petersen Lane property throughout the duration of the investigation. At one point, the property housed 50 to 80 pit bulls, Harrison added. Authorities also said an undisclosed number of dogs were removed from a second property on Mark Petersen Lane. County officials had been watching the Mark Petersen Lane property since at least Jan. 21, 2009, according to records from the planning and zoning office following a neighbor's complaint regarding the number of dogs kept there. At least two site visits were conducted by then-planning and zoning officer Linda Gant, including one when she was accompanied by Southern District Commissioner Hubie Kluesner and Harrison. Harrison acknowledged the pit bulls kept at the property were cared for and properly fed. All of the dogs were chained to barrels or trees. Kluesner believed dogfighting did occur at the Mark Petersen property. He said there was an enclosed chain-link cage with tarps surrounding it to eliminate possible distractions during a fight. Kluesner also noted dog treadmills on the premises during his site visit. The seized dogs have been cared for by the Humane Society of Missouri. Under federal law, the government can take custody of any animal engaged in an animal fighting venture.