Thread: Only 4 remain in jail from cockfight bust (Randolph Co.)

4 still in jail for cockfight

By Chip Womick -- Staff Writer
Posted: 02/01/09 - 10:23:50 pm CST

ASHEBORO — Most of the people arrested in the largest cockfighting operation uncovered in Randolph County history have flown the coop.

That is, they made bail.

As of 9 p.m. Sunday night, just four of the 73 people charged in Saturday’s raid on three chicken houses near the Coleridge community were still in Randolph County Jail.

The remainder had made bonds ranging from $1,000 to $7,500. Most of those arrested were charged with one count of cockfighting and one count of cruelty to animals, both felony charges which can carry prison sentences of 7- to 10 years with conviction. First court appearances for those charged will be Tuesday and Wednesday.

An investigation continues into the cockfighting operation, which Randolph County Sheriff Maynard Reid characterized as “sophisticatedâ€

Weren't any of these folks illegal aliens?

Court dates tomorrow... anyone going?

The remainder had made bonds ranging from $1,000 to $7,500. Most of those arrested were charged with one count of cockfighting and one count of cruelty to animals, both felony charges which can carry prison sentences of 7- to 10 years with conviction. First court appearances for those charged will be Tuesday and Wednesday.

vmonkey56 wrote:

Court dates tomorrow... anyone going?

I hope ICE will be there to place some folks on immigration hold.

you'll never see them again ... When it comes to Illegal Aliens our Judicial system acts as if it is the Key Stone Cops

When it comes to being an American ... It's "Don't Tase Me Bro"

Originally Posted by MW

Weren't any of these folks illegal aliens?

MW, check this out. Notice the date of this article vs. the date of topic article.

73 Arrested In North Carolina Cockfighting Bust

Posted: Monday, February 2, 2009
Updated: February 2nd, 2009 12:31 PM EDT


RAMSEUR, N.C. --

Randolph County sheriff's deputies arrested 73 people Saturday in what they call the largest cockfighting bust in county history.

Deputies received a tip that led them to discover crate after crate of chickens at the cockfighting ring at 5254 Riverside Road in Ramseur, N.C.

The Randolph Emergency Response Team swarmed the building, and 125 people dropped everything and ran.

"This is the largest in Randolph County that I know of, and maybe in North Carolina," said Sheriff Maynard Reid. "This was a huge operation."

Deputies caught and arrested 73 people, and said many of them were illegal aliens.

"Several illegal aliens in the bunch, a detainee will be placed on them and they will be deported," Reid said.

Animal control officers seized 130 roosters used in the fights.

"These birds can't be together," said Mimi Cooper, of Randolph Animal Control. "They'll kill each other. So they each have to be housed separately, and I don't know if they ever can be more than a fighting rooster."

Deputies said that this was no small-town bust. According to police, people came from as far away as Vermont and bet tens of thousands of dollars inside the ring.

At the time of the bust, police said $40,000 was on the line.

Cockfighting carries a felony charge and a maximum 10-year sentence in North Carolina, and officials said the gamblers in the ring were not amateurs.

Animal control officers at the scene found metal spikes that were attached to the chickens and found a pile of chickens that lost their lives while the gamblers hoped to get closer to the cash.

"There's dead chickens everywhere out the back door," Cooper said. "They just throw them out the back door when they get killed in the fight."

Randolph County deputies said they expect to be at the scene well into the night to oversee the towing of dozens of cars and the processing of 73 new felony charges.

The practice is illegal in 48 states. It is legal in New Mexico and Louisiana, and many immigrants from countries like Mexico and the Philippines continue their involvement in the sport after coming to the U.S.

http://www.officer.com/online/article.j ... 1&id=45218

I bet Michael Vick is loving this! He goes to prison, loses out on all that money, is filing for bankruptcy while illegal aliens roam free.

Originally Posted by gemini282

I bet Michael Vick is loving this! He goes to prison, loses out on all that money, is filing for bankruptcy while illegal aliens roam free.

Where the heck is PETA?

florgal wrote:

MW, check this out. Notice the date of this article vs. the date of topic article.

There's definitely some conflicting comments and missing details between the two stories.

This is wild:

From story dated Feb. 01, 2009:

Most of the people arrested in the largest cockfighting operation uncovered in Randolph County history have flown the coop.

That is, they made bail.

As of 9 p.m. Sunday night, just four of the 73 people charged in Saturday’s raid on three chicken houses near the Coleridge community were still in Randolph County Jail.

From story dated Feb. 02, 2009:

Deputies caught and arrested 73 people, and said many of them were illegal aliens.

"Several illegal aliens in the bunch, a detainee will be placed on them and they will be deported," Reid said.

Most of the 73 arrested were illegals but only 4 didn't make bail. I assume those four were placed on an immigration hold. What about the other 69? The one story did say that many of those arrested were illegal (I assume 'many' means more than 4).

Check this story out:

[quote]73 arrested in cockfighting ring bust

Quote:
By Kathi Keys -- Staff Writer
Posted: 02/01/09 - 10:44:40 am CST

COLERIDGE — The largest cockfighting operation ever uncovered in Randolph County was raided Saturday by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office.

“I’m not sure, but it could be the biggest ever in North Carolina, too,â€

Originally Posted by usatime

Originally Posted by gemini282

I bet Michael Vick is loving this! He goes to prison, loses out on all that money, is filing for bankruptcy while illegal aliens roam free.

Where the heck is PETA?

They are too busy saving the Sea Kittens from hungry humans.



http://www.peta.org/Sea_Kittens/index.asp