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Ten Days In Jail For Cock Fighting

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – For the second time a Do a Ana County Magistrate Judge has given jail time for a conviction of cock fighting.

Pedro A. Rubio-Ochoa of Mesquite, New Mexico was convicted today in Magistrate Court on one count of cock fighting.

Assistant District Attorney Scot Key who successfully prosecuted the case asked the courts for a stiff sentence.

Judge Joseph Guillory sentenced Ochoa to 180 days in jail with 170 days suspended, leaving 10 days to be served, a $500.00 fine with $300.00 suspended leaving $200.00 to be paid, plus court costs. Also included in the sentence was 24 hours of community service.

The Judge also ordered restitution be paid for the cost of caring for Ochoa's birds while they were in the County's custody pending trial. Ochoa signed papers today releasing ownership of the roosters to County officials.

This is the largest sentence imposed in New Mexico for cock fighting, coming after a previous sentence of 8 days jail time for defendant Ramon Torres on October 13th, 2009. This brings the total convictions for cock fighting to 6 since Do a Ana County Animal Control began enforcing the law. Other cases are still pending.

"We're hoping that this sends a strong message to those in the fighting arena that this type of activity will not be tolerated" said Curtis Childress, Director of Animal Control.