Former Chiefs Lineman Isaiah Buggs Convicted of Animal Cruelty

Isaiah Buggs, a former defensive lineman for the Kansas City Chiefs, has been convicted on two counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty. The charges stem from an incident in which two dogs were allegedly found neglected and malnourished on the back porch of a rental home where Buggs was staying.

Former Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs has been convicted on two counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty. Tuscaloosa County District Judge Joanne Jannik sentenced Buggs to a year of hard labor last week, ordering him to serve 60 days in jail with the remainder of the sentence suspended for two years pending good behavior.

Buggs is also prohibited from possessing guns or being around them, and from owning dogs or cats. The charges stem from an incident that occurred in March 2023, when two dogs were found severely malnourished, emaciated, and neglected on the back porch of a rental home in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Former Chiefs Lineman Isaiah Buggs Convicted of Animal Cruelty

According to court documents obtained by Tuscaloosa Patch, police received a call on March 28, 2023, reporting that two dogs were left on the porch without food or water. Witnesses claimed that Buggs had moved out of the home on March 19 due to owing over $3,100 in rent.

One of the dogs, a gray and white pit bull, was free to roam in a screened-in porch, while the other, a black rottweiler, was allegedly in a metal cage in direct sunlight. The dogs were taken into protective custody by Tuscaloosa Animal Control and later placed with a rescue organization.

Former Chiefs Lineman Isaiah Buggs Convicted of Animal Cruelty

Buggs turned himself in to authorities in late June 2023 in connection with the animal cruelty charges. Last month, while awaiting his fate on those charges, he was arrested and booked into Tuscaloosa County Jail for domestic violence/burglary. The Chiefs released Buggs shortly after his arrest.

Buggs was a sixth-round pick out of Alabama by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019. He joined the Chiefs as a member of their practice squad before their playoff run, which ended in another Super Bowl title. He had previously played for the Detroit Lions.

Former Chiefs Lineman Isaiah Buggs Convicted of Animal Cruelty

The animal cruelty conviction is the latest in a series of legal troubles for Buggs. In 2021, he was arrested for possession of marijuana and obstructing justice. He was also arrested for domestic violence in 2022.

Buggs' attorney, A.J. Johns, said his client is "deeply remorseful" for the animal cruelty incident. He said Buggs had been struggling with mental health issues at the time and was not taking his medication.

"He is committed to getting the help he needs to address these issues and to being a better person," Johns said.

The Tuscaloosa County District Attorney's Office declined to comment on the case.