Douglas County Resident Pleads to Unlawful Conduct of Cockfighting

05/06/2011
Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces today Douglas County resident Ezequiel Olivas, 45, plead guilty to the felony charge of Unlawful Conduct of Cockfighting. He will be sentenced on June 7 at 8:30 a.m. With the defendant's lack of significant criminal history he will likely be facing a presumptive probation sentence. Investigation into Mr. Olivas began in April 2007 and culminated in November 2009 when detectives with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office began working closely with the DA's office to secure a search warrant on his rural Douglas County residence. On November 17, 2009 a search warrant was executed at approximately 7:20 a.m. at the home located at 2174 North 700 Road in Eudora. A large quantity of evidence was seized, including 118 gamecocks, 48 hens and 3 chicks. Mr. Olivas was charged the day the warrant was executed. Kansas law regarding cockfighting was strengthened when then Governor Mark Parkinson signed House Bill 2060 on May 21, 2009. The legislation went into effect July 1, 2009 and it made unlawful conduct of cockfighting a level 10 nonperson felony. The case against Mr. Olivas was one of, if not the first to be charged in Kansas under the new statute. Today's hearing was held in the courtroom of the Honorable Kay Huff and the State was represented by Assistant District Attorney Eve Kemple. CONTACT INFO: Charles Branson Douglas County District Attorney 785-841-0211 cbranson@douglas-county.com -30-

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