Cockfighting - 20 injured or dead birds McColl, SC (US) Incident Date: Friday, Feb 24, 2006 County: Marlboro Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Alleged: » Watoshia Emanuel » Benny Ray Locklear » Phillip Ray Dukes

Case ID: 7441 Classification: Fighting Animal: chicken View more cases in SC (US) Login to Watch this Case

Law enforcement officials arrested 30 people in connection with a cockfighting operation in Marlboro County on the night of Feb 24. Marlboro County Sheriff Fred Knight said about half the people detained in the bust had paid the $100 fine for cockfighting and were released by late Feb 25 afternoon.

Three North Carolina men were cited, including three with Maxton addresses: Watoshia Emanuel, 31, of 304 Tuscarora Road, Benny Ray Locklear, 36, of 240 Vernell Road, and Phillip Ray Dukes, 34, of 11182 N.C. 130 West. They were cited for misdemeanor cockfighting.

Cockfighting is a misdemeanor in South Carolina and carries a penalty of a $100 fine or 30 days in jail.

Knight said 22 adults were charged and eight juveniles were turned over to their parents after the raid, which began about 9:30 p.m. and took place on New Bridge Road, outside of McColl.

Knight said the site where the cockfights were conducted consisted of two rings and about 20 injured or dead birds were found at the scene.

He said sharp spurs that are attached to the gamecocks' legs were found along with syringes, presumably used to inject the birds with steroids.

Knight also said officials seized guns, $3,000 in cash and some marijuana.

He said an anonymous tip led to a joint effort by the sheriff offices of Marlboro and Dillon counties, the State Law Enforcement Division and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation to catch those at the cockfights.

Knight said the raid was planned for more than two weeks.

He said most of those arrested were from the North Carolina counties of Robeson, Scotland and Richmond, which are just across the state line.

The rest were from Marlboro County, Knight said.

Cockfighting is a felony in North Carolina, so many of the participants have likely been coming into South Carolina because of lesser penalties, Knight said.

South Carolina legislators failed to pass a bill to stiffen penalties for cockfighting in 2005, but there is pending legislation that would make cockfighting a felony in the state if passed.

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References

	Morning News Online
	The Rebosonian - March 2, 2006

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