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Four plead guilty in connection to cockfighting ring.
#OceanaCountyCrime
By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.
HART — Four men involved in the cockfighting ring that was raided
Carl McGraw
by police last June in Hart Township pleaded guilty to a felony of attending an animal fight Monday, Aug. 13, in 27th Circuit Court.
Carl George McGraw, 70, of Niles faces up to 60 days in jail. McGraw initially faced an additional felony charge of animals – fighting because he took a chicken with him as he attempted to escape into the woods during the police raid, said Oceana County Prosecutor Joseph Bizon. He was also initially charged as a second-offense habitual offender.
In exchange for his plea, McGraw’s jail time will be capped at 60 days.
Luis Pena Jr., 74, of Fennville will not serve any jail time due to health reasons. “He has cancer and cares for a sick, elderly wife,” Bizon said. “Upon proof of that to probation, he will not serve any up front
Luis Pena
jail.” Pena was also initially facing a second-offense habitual offender notice.
Tony Pena, 53, of Fennville and Roy Enrique Guerra, 22, of Grant will receive deferred, supervised sentences, Bizon said. If they abide by
Tony Pena
the terms during a 10-month probationary period, they can withdraw their pleas to the felony and plead to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly – gambling.
John Luis Pena, 34, of Fennville is set
Roy Guerra
for a jury trial Oct. 10 and 11. He faces a charge of animals – attending a fight and second-offense habitual offender.
A total of 18 suspects were arrested in connection to the cockfighting ring.
John Pena
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.
The charge of animals – attending a fight is punishable by up to four years in prison. A conviction could also require that they are not allowed to own an animal for up five years.
This story is copyrighted © 2018, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.
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