AR-News: (OK) Tulsa Area Cockfighter Under Investigation

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Deputies combing for roosters 
By MATT ELLIOTT World Staff Writer 
4/16/2004 

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A Tulsa County farmer's operation is being
investigated for possible violations of the new law
banning cockfighting. 
Tulsa County farmer Lynn Moore has been raising
roosters and selling them for 50 years. 

Now, he knows that he may have to look for another way
to supplement his income. 

Tulsa County sheriff's deputies began investigating
him this week for alleged violations of the state's
cockfighting ban. 

"I don't figure I'm doing anything wrong by raising
them to sell to help put food on the table," said
Moore, 70, while he walked his 13 1/3 acres near
Collinsville. 

Deputies are investigating potential violations at
Moore's farm in the 10500 block of East 136th Street
North and at another rural property near Bixby. 

Authorities are looking into whether the roosters
raised at both locations are being sold to
cockfighters, which would be a violation of the new
law, approved by state voters in November 2002. The
Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled March 30 that the ban is
constitutional. 

"They're out in plain view -- the roosters are,"
Deputy David Long said. 

About 150 roosters are kept at the farm, which is in
the 15000 block of South Harvard Avenue near Bixby,
said Long, the department's animal cruelty
investigator. 

The two locations aren't the only ones in the county,
Long said. Deputies know of multiple locations
throughout the county where they believe that
cockfighting-related activity is occurring. 

"There are multiple sites," he said. "We have some in
Sand Springs, some in west Tulsa, sites in north
Tulsa. If we find out that there is, then it will be
investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the
the law." 

However, officials do not think any cockfights are
being held in the county, Long said. 

Moore, who keeps about 100 roosters at his farm, said
he doesn't fight any of them. 

The roosters at both farms have 55-gallon plastic
barrels for shelter. The barrels are spaced about 15
to 20 feet apart, Long said. 

Authorities began investigating Moore's farm and the
farm near Bixby on Tuesday, Long said. 

He has been working with Tulsa County District
Attorney Tim Harris' office in the investigation, he
said. 

First Assistant District Attorney Doug Drummond said
he couldn't predict "what investigation might
transpire or might not." 

Tulsa County Chief Deputy Brian Edwards said no
arrests would be made unless charges are filed first. 

If Moore were charged with a cockfighting-related
offense, he would be the first Tulsa County resident
charged with the crime since the ban was enacted. 

Three Oklahoma City residents were charged April 2
with felony counts accusing them of owning birds
intended for cockfighting. 

Juan Ausencio Zarate, 30; Mary Esther Zarate, 27; and
Fernando Franco Zarate, 38, were each charged with one
felony count. The three allegedly had 76 roosters in
addi tion to knives, gaffs, cages and other equipment.
Their charges are still pending, records show. 

The law bans cockfighting-related activities including
selling roosters for fighting and being a spectator at
a fight. 

Violators can be charged with a felony that carries a
penalty of up to 10 years in jail and a $25,000 fine.
Being a spectator at a cockfight is a misdemeanor. 

Moore, who as of Thursday had not been contacted by
sheriff's deputies about the investigation, said he
sells the roosters for about $100 each to supplement
his Social Security income and money from sales of
cattle and Great Pyrennees puppies. 

Fighting roosters, depending on the breed, normally
sell for $200 to $1,000 each, Long said. 

Jurisdictional problems were considered when deputies
became aware of the operation in south Tulsa County,
where Long said a sign on the property indicated that
it may have been owned by the Kiowa tribe, but Kiowa
officials later told deputies that the tribe owned no
land in Tulsa County. 

If it had been Indian land, Tulsa County officials
would not have been able to investigate because it
would have been outside their jurisdiction. 

At that Bixby-area location, deputies approached a
woman who told them she is the daughter of the owner
of the land on Harvard Avenue. She said the family
planned to sell the roosters, Long said. 

"She advised that they were in the process of selling
the birds because of the law," he said. 

The family had been waiting for the ruling before
selling the roosters, Long said. 

Upon conviction of a cockfighting-related offense, all
materials and roosters used in connection with the
fights will be seized by the state, Long said. 

Moore said he has been scaling back his operations
since the ruling and may stop selling them once he
gets rid of his current roosters. 




	
		
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