AR-News: (FL) Forty Cockfighters Charged With Felonies

[Political Animal]

It is awesome that forty cockfighters are being
charged with felonies.  However, it is disappointing
the spectators are being released with warnings.  But
all in all, illegal cockfights in FL have been under
siege since tough new legislation was passed last
year.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/states/florida/counties/miami-dade/cities_neighborhoods/northcentral/8289510.htm

Posted on Sun, Mar. 28, 2004 
 
 
 

NORTHWEST DADE


40 arrested, accused of role in cockfight ring

Cockfighting, which is illegal in Florida, lands more
than 40 people in jail who police said were involved
in a large, popular cockfighting ring.

BY SOFIA SANTANA

ssantana at herald.com


Nearly 100 roosters sat waiting in cages.

They were bred to kill one another for the sport of
cockfighting, which is illegal in Florida.

Miami-Dade police found the birds Thursday afternoon
when officers raided a cockfighting ring near
Florida's Turnpike and the county line in Northwest
Miami-Dade.

More than 40 people were arrested and charged with
organizing the ring, which police said operated out of
a large shack at 17800 NW 129th Ave.

More than 100 spectators were in the shack, police
said. Rather than charge those people with a crime,
police gave them a warning. But, next time, there
won't be a warning, police said.

Under a state law passed in October, just attending a
cockfight is a felony; it used to be a misdemeanor.

''We did arrest the owners, bettors and other people
involved in the fighting,'' said Detective Juan
DelCastillo, a Miami-Dade police spokesman, ``but we
aren't charging the other people we found inside
because the department felt it was in the community's
best interest to warn people about the new law.''

''Even being a spectator is against the law, just like
it is with drag racing,'' DelCastillo said.

Candido Proenza, 76, who owns the property, was
charged with running a cockfighting ring and gambling
operation. About 40 others were charged with felonies
for their involvement.

''We had heard that on other days this place would
draw as many as 200 people,'' DelCastillo said. ``We
know of other places where this is going on, but we
have to take it one at a time.''
 



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