Isaiah Buggs sentenced to hard labor, banned from owning dogs and cats after animal cruelty convictions

Former Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs has been convicted of misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. According to Carol Robinson of AL.com, Buggs, who played college football at Alabama, was convicted on two counts of animal cruelty and was sentenced to 365 days of “hard labor in Tuscaloosa County.” Joanne Jannik, the Tuscaloosa County District Judge, ordered Buggs to serve 60 days, with the rest to be suspended for two years pending “the behavior of the defendant.” Buggs was ordered not to be in possession of any guns, and he’s not allowed to own any dogs or cats.

Buggs is appealing the conviction and sentence but is still facing other charges in Tuscaloosa County. The Chiefs released the 27-year-old in June due to his multiple legal incidents during the offseason.

On March 28, Tuscaloosa police received information of two dogs being left on the back of a home. Police and animal control went to the house and discovered a grey and white pitbull covered with feces. They also found a black rottweiler mix locked in a metal cage with no access to food or water.

A neighbor told investigators that Buggs was renting the house, but he was served a notice of termination in April because $3,116 in back rent was owed. Buggs moved out of the house on about March 19.

The pitbull was euthanized in late April because of the animals “increasing aggressiveness” and failed heartworm treatment provided by the Tuscaloosa County Metro Animal Shelter. The rottweiler weighed 52 pounds which was extremely low for that type of breed at three years old.

Isaiah Buggs denies the allegations against him

Buggs’ agent, Trey Robinson, previously said the dogs were not his and that he was unaware they were still on at the home. “We believe the City of Tuscaloosa’s decision to file charges today is part of a concerted effort by the City of Tuscaloosa and Tuscaloosa Police Department to besmirch Mr. Buggs’ name and reputation as part of an ongoing subversive campaign to force the close of his local business Kings Hookah Lounge,” the statement read.

Buggs surrendered himself to police in May. He was then arrested the following month for second-degree domestic violence and second-degree burglary. According to court documents, Buggs is accused of breaking into his ex-girlfriends’ apartment at the Legacy Country Club in Tuscaloosa.

Buggs was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He also spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders and Detroit Lions before signing with the Chiefs on Jan. 4 of this year. Buggs was on the roster when the Chiefs won the Super Bowl in February and signed a reserve/future contract with the team shortly after the championship game.