Cockfighting probe ongoing, sheriff says
The roosters in custody next to the Sevier County jail in De Queen, Ark., provide a symphony of crowing throughout the day.
Roosters crow in one area of the outdoor compound, sending a message to another rooster who responds with a crow.
The 200 roosters are housed in individual pens which provide shade for the fowls.
A Facebook report said a petition is being circulated to release the chickens to their owners. The Gazette could not confirm this.
Authorities continue to research the legal aspects of how to prosecute the 137 people taken into custody.
This determine what to do with the cockfighting chickens.
The property owners, Eugenio and Jeanette Rojas, were charged with felony
“unlawful animal fighting,” according to Sheriff Robert
Gentry.
A rooster fighting ring was confiscated March 17 near De Queen, Ark., and a total of 34 suspects were arrested for felony counts of unlawful animal fighting. Eightysix suspects were arrested for misdemeanor counts of unlawful animal fighting.
Ironically a publication titled “Salute to Poultry” was released the same day in newspapers highlighting the poultry industry.
The warrants of arrest were served by the following law enforcement agencies: Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, the De Queen Police Department, the South Central Drug Task Force, the Arkansas State Police, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the U.S. Forestry Agency, the U.S. Wildlife Service and Homeland Security.
The agencies booked 137 people into the Sevier County jail.
Sevier County Sheriff Robert Gentry reported the investigation started about 18-months ago when his department received some calls from agencies in Texas and North Arkansas about a rooster fighting ring in the county.
Other agencies learned about the illegal activity while conducting interviews with subjects who had been arrested for drugs, Gentry said.
Gentry said 86 suspects were charged with misdemeanor counts of unlawful animal fighting, while 34 suspects will be charged with felony counts of unlawful animal fighting.
Gentry said suspects were from as far away as New Jersey. He said others were from Mount Pleasant, Pittsburgh and San Antonio, Texas; and Tulsa, Okla.; as well as Fort Smith, Pine Bluff, Little Rock and Alma, Ark.