Authorities arrest three for cockfighting in Marshall County

MARSHALL COUNTY (KOKH) — Three people were arrested for cockfighting in Marshall County last Saturday.

According to court documents, Herminio Mendoza, Jamie Bell, and Jackson Bell are charged with possessing birds for fighting.

All three have pleaded not guilty.

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Jamie and Jackson Bell are also charged with having and operating a cockfighting pit west of Madill.

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If convicted, they all face up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $25,000.

“It’s very encouraging to see the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office make arrests for the barbaric and sickening practice of cockfighting," said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action. "Staged fights are occurring with disturbing frequency in Oklahoma, and the only way to stop it is to arrest the perpetrators.”

The Marshall County arrests come a few weeks after a husband and wife were arrested for cockfighting in Oklahoma City.

“Oklahoma’s anti-cockfighting law makes possession of fighting animals a felony, and the arrests invoke that critically important prohibition,” said Steve Hindi, president of Showing Animals Respect and Kindness, which has conducted undercover investigations of cockfights in southeast Oklahoma. “We applaud the enforcement agencies for bringing these charges.”

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