Byhalia man charged with cockfighting

Published 2:13 am Monday, January 26, 2009

BYHALIA (AP) — DeSoto County authorities and the Humane Society say they have uncovered one of the region’s largest cockfighting operations and made one arrest in the case.

Officials say 42-year-old Arnulfo Hernandez, of Byhalia, has been accused of running a cockfighting training operation that involved more than 300 roosters. He faces a $100 fine and is slated to appear in justice court to face a misdemeanor cockfighting charge.

In Mississippi, cockfighting is a misdemeanor. In most states, it is a felony.

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Hundreds of the fighting roosters were euthanized Friday and Hernandez had previously removed 60 roosters under orders from DeSoto County Sheriff Bill Rasco earlier last week.

Neighbors had complained about crowing and screeching at all hours on Hernandez’s property.