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Cockfighting - 27 birds seized
Accomac, VA (US)

Incident Date: Sunday, Apr 11, 2010
County: Accomack

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Belari-mino Bedoya Alvarez

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

On April 11 at approximately 5:57 p.m., the Accomack County Sheriff's Office received a report of cockfighting activity on Kellam Lane near Accomac, Virginia.

Deputies discovered evidence of recent cockfighting activity to include numerous roosters as well as a variety of fighting paraphernalia. During the investigation a variety of evidence was seized, including 27 live roosters.

The roosters are being held at the Eastern Shore Regional Animal Control Facility in Melfa. On April 19 a General District Court judge ordered the roosters to be turned over to the Accomack County Sheriff's Office for final disposition.


Case Updates

An Accomack County man has been arrested and charged in connection with a cockfighting ring raided last week.

Belari-mino Bedoya Alvarez, 45, of Accomac was charged Wednesday with engaging in animal fighting. He is being held in the Accomack County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bond, according to Accomack County Sheriff Larry Giddens.

It is the first known arrest for cockfighting in Accomack County in recent memory, Giddens said.

Confiscated during the raid were 27 roosters. In the days since, Giddens said he has heard about other cockfighting activities, but the reports have not been substantiated.

"I'm not aware of it," he said of further activity.

Karen Davis, president of Northampton County-based United Poultry Concerns, a nonprofit organization that promotes the compassionate and respectful treatment of domestic fowl, applauded the arrest.

"I'm hoping there's going to be more of that," she said.

She also said she was "somewhat surprised, because I haven't heard anything about cockfighting rings on the Eastern Shore."

Alvarez apparently was one of three suspects who fled the scene April 11 after the sheriff's office responded to a report of cockfighting activity on Kellam Lane near Accomac.

Along with the cocks, other items related to cockfighting were found, such as a portable ring, sharp blades to attach to the chicken's legs, scales and vitamin supplements, according to testimony by Accomack County Deputy Jess Long in Accomack County General District Court.

Some birds were found in cages and others tied up in a wooded area.

Davis said chickens are not naturally combative and in many cases are drugged to quicken their heart rates and increase aggressive behavior.

"They basically drive the birds crazy with fear and trauma," said Davis, who operates a refuge for abandoned birds.

"These cockfighters want these birds to peck each other's eyes out."

The birds sometimes fight to the death, and Davis said gambling is frequently involved. Sometimes the maimed birds are discarded after the fight, still alive.

She has 21 roosters at the preserve and couldn't accommodate the locally confiscated birds.

A District Court judge has ordered the roosters be turned over to the sheriff's office for euthanization after a 10-day period.

Animal control officers said they were unable to locate a rescue group that would take the cocks.

The roosters are being held at the Eastern Shore Regional Animal Control Facility in Melfa.

Alvarez's formal charge is "promoting, preparing for, engaging in or being employed in, the fighting of animals for amusements, sport or gain."
Source: Delmarva Now - April 24, 2010
Update posted on Apr 26, 2010 - 3:36AM 

References

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