OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — After 32 people involved in a cockfighting ring in Cass County were arrested in November, 21 took misdemeanor plea deals according to our partners at the Omaha World Herald.
On Tuesday, Cass County Attorney Colin Palm said he offered the defendants the choice to plead guilty to one of four potential misdemeanor charges. Most of them opted for the charge of cruelly neglecting animals. Each of them were sentenced to jail time served and a $500 fine. Some of the defendants will face immigration charges as well, the number is uncertain.
The 32 ring members were arrested on a farm near Louisville, Nebraska and nearly 200 roosters were confiscated. Initially the defendants were jailed on spectator of cockfighting felony charges. That would have resulted in a maximum three year jail sentence.
Palm said the cases of the other 11 people who didn't take the plea deal are still pending.
