Cockfighting - 400 birds seized
Luling, TX (US)

Incident Date: Monday, Nov 17, 2008
County: Caldwell

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Noe Perez

What started as a search for evidence of drug trafficking at 972 Plant Road near Luling turned into a lot more for the Caldwell County Sheriff's Department.

On Monday, DPS troopers arrested Noe Perez, 37, of Luling, in Lockhart and took him to Travis County on an outstanding warrant for narcotics trafficking.

When they arrived to search Perez' property on Tuesday, they were finally able to prove what they had suspected all along, Caldwell County Sheriff Daniel Law said.

"The Caldwell County Sheriff's Office has heard about possible cockfighting on this property for the past few years, but this is the first time we had probable clause to enter the property and obtain the evidence," Law said.

The federal search warrant was a result of a two-year investigation of an international narcotic trafficking organization conducted by state and federal narcotics agencies. Officers arrested several suspects and a number of weapons and stolen property were seized during the search.

The officers also found more than 400 roosters and hens surrounding the property.

"They were pinned down and tethered fighting roosters," Law said.

The Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was called out to take custody of the animals. Cockfighting is illegal because it's cruel, Heidi Brasher of the HSPCA said.

"They'll put them in a ring and they'll put spurs on their claws and they'll basically go at it until one dies, unfortunately," Brasher said.

Brasher handles cockfighting cases all over Texas, but this one was different.

"This was a well-organized area. We saw fighting rings where we could tell there had been some fights before. There's an incubation area, breeding area and housing for the roosters and hens," Brasher said.

Many of the birds were chemically altered to be more aggressive, she said. A few had broken legs and had fighting wounds. Sheriff officials believe up to 60 people watched on Sundays as the birds fought for their lives.

"People call this a sport. They bring their families and they bring their kids and we see a whole generation of people believing this is something that is OK," Brasher said.

While some call cockfighting a sport, the SPCA and the state of Texas calls it animal cruelty.

Perez faces drug possession, conspiracy, distribution and animal cruelty charges, Law said.

The birds will remain with the Houston SPCA until a judge decides where they go next. A hearing is expected next week.

References

• « Back to Search Results
  « TX State Animal Cruelty Map
  « More cases in Caldwell County, TX

  Note: Classifications and other fields should not be used to determine what specific charges the suspect is facing or was convicted of - they are for research and statistical purposes only. The case report and subsequent updates outline the specific charges. Charges referenced in the original case report may be modified throughout the course of the investigation or trial, so case updates, when available, should always be considered the most accurate reflection of charges.
  
  For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.