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A Deerfield Beach man who was considered one of South Florida’s biggest dogfighters was sentenced Tuesday to two years of probation.

Alex Benefield, 54, an instructor at Boyd Anderson High School in Lauderdale Lakes, was “one of the top dog fighting trainers and dog fighters in South Florida,” according to federal court records.

Federal agents had raided his home in January and found 36 pit bulls in cages, many of them injured. In September, Benefield pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing, training and receipt of a dog for use in an animal fighting venture as part of an agreement with prosecutors.

Prior to his sentencing, he had asked the judge to be spared prison time. Several employees at Boyd Anderson, including the principal, submit

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