Cockfighting - 582 birds seized
Olathe, KS (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008
County: Johnson
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 1 files available
Alleged:
» Murillo Fernando Tapia - Convicted
» Juan Carlos Rodriguez-Machain
Case Updates: 3 update(s) available
A suspected cockfighting operation was raided Wednesday in rural Johnson County, the sheriff's department announced.
Deputies served a search warrant on a home in the 38700 block of West 151st Street, which is about eight miles west of Olathe. Authorities said they confiscated more than 170 fighting roosters and $40,000 in cash.
John Goodwin with the Humane Society said a knife would be tied to the rooster's leg, and that's the weapon the animal used when it fought.
Investigators called it a "vicious blood sport."
Officials said there were weekly cockfights held on the property.
The sheriff's department said Fernando Tapia, the property owner, and Alberto Rodriguez-Perez were taken into custody on suspicion of running an illegal cockfighting operation. Formal charges against the pair have not been filed.
Authorities said Rodriguez-Perez admitted he was in the country illegally.
The Sheriff's Department said representatives from eight other agencies, including the Humane Society, are assisting with the investigation.
The investigation started two years ago on a tip, officials said.
Case UpdatesA cockfighting case that started with a two-year investigation at a massive chicken operation near Gardner all but ended quietly this week.
Some cockfighting opponents are making noise though, sparking an effort to turn cockfighting into a felony in Kansas.
Those who want the activity to result in a more serious charge say it's already a felony in 37 states.
Sen. Julia Lynn, an Olathe Republican, says she is drafting a bill that would make cockfighting a felony and allow authorities to take property, cash, birds, cages and other materials used in cockfighting operations.
In the case this week, the 37-year-old man who was the main defendant was charged with 172 misdemeanors, but only was sentenced to a one-year diversion program. | Source: NBC Action News - Jan 31, 2009
Update posted on Feb 1, 2009 - 10:07PM |
A Johnson County man charged with 172 misdemeanors for an alleged cockfighting operation entered into a diversion agreement Wednesday.
The charges will be dismissed if he successfully completes the diversion in one year.
As part of the agreement, Murillo Fernando Tapia, 37, of Eudora agreed to pay about $45,000 to the Johnson County sheriff's department for the cost of a long investigation.
No deal has been reached with co-defendant Juan Carlos Rodriguez-Machain, 50, of Olathe, who faces the same charges for the alleged operation near Gardner. He is scheduled for trial in April. | Source: Kansas City Star - Jan 28, 2009
Update posted on Feb 1, 2009 - 10:06PM |
Two men were each charged today with 172 counts of unlawful conduct of cockfighting in connection with a raid south of DeSoto this week.
Murillo Fernando Tapia, 37, of Eudora and Juan Carlos Rodriguez-Machain, 50, of Olathe were charged in Johnson County District Court. The charges are misdemeanors.
Rodriguez-Machain also was charged with obstruction of the legal process for giving authorities a false name.
Meanwhile, the 582 birds seized from the property were euthanized this afternoon after authorities obtained a court order permitting it.
District Attorney Phill Kline said today that his office was working closely with several agencies as the investigation proceeds.
"This was a big operation and the Johnson County Sheriff's Office did a great job managing everything," he said. | Source: Kansas City Star - Jun 27, 2008
Update posted on Jun 27, 2008 - 5:36PM |
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