LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — A Tuscumbia man is facing several counts of animal-cruelty-related charges following a recent investigation.

38-year-old Lamarcus Dewane Ricks has been charged with 17 counts of dogfighting and 68 counts of second-degree animal cruelty after he was arrested on October 28.

According to the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department, Ricks was taken into custody in connection to an incident that resulted in 68 dogs being seized earlier this month from a rental property.

Lauderdale County Investigator Matt Burbank told News 19 that 17 of those dogs showed signs that they had been used to fight.

“I had two different veterinarians look at the dogs. Both veterinarians identified the same seventeen dogs as being fought,” Burbank said.

Burbank also said that they found dogfighting paraphernalia, including heavy chains and weights.

“A lot of the devices are used to strengthen a dog’s jaws, to strengthen their bite,” Burbank said. “They’ll use real thick heavy chains and match it to the dogs weight. That way they’re used to pulling their own weight around.”

Chief Deputy Joe Hamilton says Ricks turned himself in on Friday but was immediately released that same day on a $119,000 bond.