Man Sentenced After Cockfighting Conviction
GARDEN VALLEY, Calif. (CBS13) – One El Dorado County resident will spend more than a month in jail and another will be deported following a conviction on cockfighting charges, authorities said.
Saul Cuevas Ayala offered a no contest plea for misdemeanor possession of cocks for fighting purposes, according to the El Dorado County Animal Services.
Ayala and other man, Rogelio Reyes-Higareda, were arrested in February after deputies found two injured roosters in the back of their pickup truck during a routine traffic stop. An investigation of Ayala's home revealed what authorities called a "large scale" cockfighting operation, recovering nearly 250 birds and a collection of fighting implements.
Authorities had to euthanize the birds due to their injuries or extreme aggression.
El Dorado County Animal Services representative said cockfighting rings appear to be happening more frequently. California considers the crime to be a misdemeanor, but surrounding states all treat it as a felony offense.
