Cockfighting Operation Broken up in Rural Douglas County

11/17/2009
CONTACT INFO: Charles Branson Douglas County District Attorney 785-841-0211 cbranson@douglas-county.com Sgt. Stephen Lewis Douglas County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer 785-832-5204 slewis@dgso.org Douglas County Sheriff's Office Investigators have worked closely with the District Attorney's Office since September to secure a search warrant on a rural Douglas County residence. That work culminated today with the execution of the search warrant at approximately 7:20 a.m. at a home located at 2174 North 700 Road in Eudora. 169 birds, including 118 gamecocks, 48 hens and 3 chicks were removed from the property. Ezequiel Olivas, 44, was arrested and is facing three charges for conducting cockfighting and one charge for possession of cockfighting paraphernalia. It is anticipated Jose Guerrero, 40, will be charged later today or tomorrow. Kansas law regarding cockfighting was strengthened when Governor Mark Parkinson signed House Bill 2060 on May 21, 2009. The new legislation went into effect July 1 and it made unlawful conduct of cockfighting a level 10 nonperson felony and possession of cockfighting paraphernalia a class A nonperson misdemeanor. Punishment for both is dependent upon prior criminal history. Personnel from the Johnson County Sheriff's Office, Lawrence Police Department, Lenexa Police Department, Overland Park Police Department, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Kansas Animal Health Department, the Lawrence Humane Society, and The Humane Society of the United States assisted with the investigation and today's operation. The Kansas Highway Patrol provided assistance during the investigation and Petco generously donated equipment to assist the Lawrence Humane Society. The charges listed are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. -30-

Media Contact:
Cheryl L. Wright - Assistant to the District Attorney
District Attorney's Office
785-841-0211
cwright@douglas-county.com