Amador County – An El Dorado County man was convicted of cockfighting last week and ordered to serve 45 days in jail, and pay $4,900 in fines, fees and restitution.

El Dorado County announced the sentencing Thursday, saying Saul Cuevas Ayala of Garden Valley, pled no contest to the misdemeanor crime for possession of game cocks for fighting purposes. Another man arrested with Ayala in February, Rogelio Reyes-Higareda, was not charged, but was deported.

As part of the plea, Ayala cannot possess fowl in the future or implements that could be used for cockfighting, and he must reimburse Animal Services for costs of response and investigation. That includes $4,200 in restitution. After serving jail time, Ayala will be on searchable probation for 3 years.

Chief of El Dorado County Animal Services Henry Brzezinski said cockfighting operations are a growing problem and he wanted the “message to get out into the community that these operations are going on.”

Brzezinski said: “Cockfighting is not just a concern because it involves cruelty to animals. Typically, large amounts of money, drugs and weapons are involved in cockfighting matches. There are also often other crimes and violence involved.” He said people “who see suspicious activity that could be associated with cockfighting should report it.”

Ayala and Reyes-Higareda were arrested Feb. 13 when injured game birds and cockfighting instruments were found in their vehicle. A search warrant and raid found more than 250 game fowl on Ayala’s Garden Valley property, with fighting implements and other evidence of cockfighting. All of the birds found were either in bad shape physically or too aggressive to be rehabilitated, and had to be humanely euthanized, Brzezinski said.

Cockfighting birds are bred to be aggressive and injected with powerful chemicals, stimulants and hormones. Prior to fighting, a knife, called a slasher, is attached to one leg of each rooster and the birds are taunted into fighting until one usually dies from its injuries.

Cockfighting is illegal in the United States. In California, where it is a misdemeanor, penalties can include jail time and fines up to $5,000 for a first offense and $25,000 for a second offense. States surrounding California consider cockfighting a felony, Brzezinski said and “this may be one of the reasons why we are seeing more cockfighting operations here.”

Since 2008, there have been more than 110 law enforcement incidences involving cockfighting in 35 of California’s 58 counties. More than 21,000 birds have been found dead or alive in connection with the bloodsport in that time. The U.S. Humane Society offers rewards up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in illegal animal fighting.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.