Cockfighting - 36 birds seized
Black Creek, WI (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Jan 1, 2008
County: Outagamie
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Johnny Xiong
An Appleton man faces charges arising from a cock-fighting operation at a Town of Black Creek farm.
Johnny Xiong, 44, 545 N. Ida St., is scheduled for an arraignment Friday in Outagamie County Circuit Court on two counts of animal neglect and one count of instigating fights between animals. An arraignment is a hearing at which charges are read and a defendant typically enters a plea.
The cock-fighting charge is a felony carrying a maximum penalty of 3 and 1/2 years in prison.
On Jan. 1, about 36 hens and roosters were found in various outbuildings at a farm he owns at W5407 County A in the Town of Black Creek when sheriff's deputies responded to an animal welfare call, according to the criminal complaint.
Deputies found several cock-fighting rings and pens holding about 36 hens and roosters, with many of the roosters showing signs of injuries. One appeared to have an eye gouged out.
Also found were three pit bulls, two of which were dead and frozen, showing signs of inadequate shelter and food.
In a statement to police, Xiong said "the circle pits in the pole building were his and he used them for fighting roosters." References
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