VAN BUREN, AR--(Marketwire - January 4, 2008) - On Monday, January 7th, in connection with
the nation's largest cockfighting bust, thirty-nine people will appear in
Crawford County Circuit Court to enter pleas. Judge Gary Cottrell ordered
the mandatory appearance of the cockfighters. Last Chance for Animals,
responsible for undercover investigation leading to bust, will also be in
court, to observe the pleas of the cockfighters.
Last May, with information provided by Last Chance for Animals' Special
Investigations Unit, county law enforcement officials, along with Arkansas
State Police and FBI agents raided a crowded and popular cockfighting
arena, operating on Shiloh Road near Cedarville. The raid resulted in 127
arrests, with both federal and misdemeanor charges. Those not represented
on Monday have appeared before Crawford County Court or in Van Buren
District Court.
"I will be in court on Monday to look these degenerate cockfighters square
in the eye. They have been getting away with horrific acts of animal
cruelty for far too long. Last Chance for Animals speaks on behalf of all
the animals that have been abused and killed; we must take a tough stance
against animal cruelty. Dog fighting has garnered much attention this past
year, let's make sure we don't forget about the scum that cockfights,"
stated Chris DeRose, President and Founder, Last Chance for Animals.
The raid came after several months of surveillance, which included
infiltration of the group by undercover officers. All of those in court
face unclassified felony charges of keeping a gambling house and
misdemeanor charges of cruelty to animals. Twenty of the group faces
additional charges of criminal use of property or laundering criminal
proceeds and 21 face added charges of engaging in a continuing criminal or
gang organization or enterprise.
Where: Crawford County Circuit Court -- Division I
300 Main Street
Van Buren, AR 72956
When: 8:30 AM, Monday, January 7th
Scheduled Time for Cockfighters to Arrive in Court
Who: Chris DeRose, President and Founder, Last Chance for Animals
Last Chance for Animals (LCA), a national non-profit animal rights
organization based in Los Angeles, has been active for almost 25 years.
Founded and led by animal expert, author and actor, Chris DeRose. LCA
fights for the rights of animals by conducting investigations that expose
animal cruelty. Visit
www.LCAnimal.org.
Contact: For media interviews with Chris DeRose, call Eileen Koch & Company
at 310-441-1000. For all other information, contact Lisa Beal, LCA
Campaigns Director, (818) 681-3672,
lisa@lcanimal.org
Contact Information: Contact:
Eileen Koch
Eileen Koch & Company
310-441-1000
email Eileen@eileenkoch.com