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Gonzalo Magana-Chavez
Pair sentenced in connection to cockfighting ring.
#OceanaCountyCrime
By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.
HART — Two Newaygo County men were sentenced this week in 78th District Court in connection to a cockfighting ring in Hart Township that was raided by police, June 2.
Gonzalo Magana-Chavez, 44, of 3728 104th St., Grant, and Jesus Armando Ceja-Ochoa, 36, of 8274 Mundy Ave., Newaygo were found guilty, July 30, of a misdemeanor of disorderly person – jostling.
Magana-Chavez was sentenced to 90 days discretionary jail and $400 in fines and costs. Ceja-Ochoa was sentenced to 90 days discretionary jail and a $75 fine.
Jesus Ceja-Ochoa
Both were initially charged with a felony count of attending an animal fight, which was dismissed in a plea agreement. According to their court files, the Oceana County Prosecutor’s Office can withdraw their pleas, if the defendants refuse to testify.
The felony charge of animals – attending a fight is punishable by up to four years in prison. A conviction would also require that the suspects are not allowed to own an animal for up five years.
A total of 18 suspects were arrested in connection to the deadly cockfighting ring at 1811 N. 72nd Ave.
Ten dead roosters were found in a pit, and police confiscated razor spurs that were attached to the roosters’ feet and vials of injectable stimulant used to make the chickens more aggressive. Several of the birds had cuts from the razors. Police found 35 live roosters that were either in pens or actively fighting in the woods.
Several suspects attempted to flee from the police in the densely wooded area.
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