Sheriff breaks up cockfighting ring

STOCK PHOTO

SJNT staff

CLEVELAND — San Jacinto County Sheriff deputies made 19 arrests and confiscated 96 roosters after investigating a call of animal cruelty.

On Oct. 15, after receiving at call, three deputies found 250-300 people at what was described as a large-scale cockfighting operation at 100 Maxine Road, which is in the Oak Forests Subdivision of San Jacinto County.

According to reports, deputies found a large wooden structure and a round wooden cock fighting arena, wooden bleachers, and a working kitchen and concession stand. Also located under the covered structure were various items of gambling paraphernalia, including a dry erase board which indicated 44 fights had already taken place.

Deputies were able to detain 19 people, and the others fled into the surrounding woods. About 100 vehicles were abandoned, the reports state. Investigators found additional cockfighting items and numerous roosters, and 96 live roosters seized from vehicles, cages, and transport boxes. Also, officers found four trailers equipped with wooden pens, lights and air conditioning.

Other items seized include gaffs, vitamins, steroids, syringes, food and cages. Deputies also found several dozen dead roosters, and several live roosters were found still wearing gaffs in their cages.

In all, deputies seized 96 birds, 43 vehicles, four trailers, five pistols, some marijuana and more than $22,000.

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement was contacted regarding the arrest of subjects suspected to be undocumented immigrants.

The investigation continues, and the San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office is working to identify the suspects that fled the scene as well as those that were there to observe.

Arrested were:

Jonathan A. Briceno-Garcia, participating in a cockfight, possession of a controlled substance penalty group 1 greater than 1 gram but less than 4 grams, and possession of marijuana.

Alejandro Calztoncinth, attending a cockfight.

•Luis Alberto Castillo-Adame, attending a cockfight.

•Armando Delgado, attending a cockfight with a previous conviction.

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•Elias Gallegos, attending a cockfight.

•Ruben Garcia-Meza, attending a cockfight.

•Daniel Gonzalez, attending a cockfight.

•Edgar Gutierrez, attending a cockfight.

•Alberto Martinez, attending a cockfight.

•Alejandro Mendoza, attending a cockfight.

•Alejandro Morales, attending a cockfight.

•Adrian Moreno, attending a cockfight.

•Michael Lakeith Potts, attending a cockfight.

•Armando Puga-Medrano, attending a cockfight.

•Ramon Robles-Mendez, attending a cockfight.

•Gerardo Santoyo, attending a cockfight.

•Jose Ortuno-Ortega, attending a cockfight.

•Emigdio Miranda-Perez, participating in a cockfight.

•Narciso Rios-Martinez, attending a cockfight.