New York
State AG: 3,000 birds rescued in cockfighting bust
NEW YORK (AP) — More than 3,000 birds were rescued in a three-county cockfighting takedown in New York this weekend that resulted in nine felony arrests, according to the state Attorney General’s Office.
In a statement released Sunday night, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said it was the largest cockfighting takedown in New York state and among the largest in U.S. history.
“Operation Angry Birds” simultaneously targeted locations in Queens, Brooklyn and Ulster County with assistance from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Ulster County Sheriff’s office, Schneiderman said.
“Cockfighting is a cruel, abusive and barbaric practice that tortures animals, endangers the health and safety of the public and is known to facilitate other crimes,” Schneiderman said.
At the cockfights, spectators were charged admission fees and an additional fee for a seat within the secret basement location that housed the all-night fights, authorities said. Alcohol was sold without a permit and owners and spectators placed bets on the fights with individual wagers reaching $10,000.
In Queens, authorities raided a cockfighting bimonthly event where 70 people were taken into custody, including six who were arrested on felony prohibition of animal fighting charges. The ASPCA took control of 65 fighting birds, authorities said.
In Brooklyn, a pet shop was raided where 50 fighting birds were rescued from a basement beneath the pet shop. The pet shop’s owner was arrested on a felony charge and cockfighting contraband, including artificial spurs and syringes used to inject performance enhancing drugs into the roosters, were also found.
The pet shop owner was charged with prohibition of animal fighting, prosecutors said.
Authorities also raided a 90-acre farm in Plattekill, rescuing as many at 3,000 birds. The farm’s owners charged rent to cockfighting enthusiasts from various other states, including, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts to board, feed and care for roosters that were bred and trained to fight, prosecutors said. A farm manager and a farm hand at the scene were arrested.
Authorities said the roosters had razor-sharp gaffs attached in place of their spurs and were locked in small pens to be wagered on. The ASPCA has established a temporary shelter to house and care for the animals.
In New York, cockfighting and possession of a fighting bird at a cockfighting location are felonies and each charge carries a maximum penalty of four years in jail and a fine of up to $25,000, according to the attorney general’s office. Paying to attend one of these events is a misdemeanor and carries a possible sentence of up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Ohio
Missing college student froze to death overnight
GRANVILLE, Ohio (AP) — An official at a central Ohio college says a student who was the subject of intensive search over the weekend apparently died of hypothermia after falling asleep outside.
Denison University student David Hallman III was last seen leaving a downtown Granville restaurant early Saturday. The 21-year-old Erie, Pa., native was found Saturday night outside a garage in a condo complex about a half mile away.
The Columbus Dispatch reports that Laurel Kennedy, vice president for student development, wrote in a memo to the university community that “it appears he had fallen asleep and then succumbed to hypothermia.” Police said alcohol may be a factor.
Hallman was a history major who was well-known on the campus of about 2,100 students. He was a former member of the swimming team.
Illinois
Man sexually assaulted and impregnated girl
QUINCY, Ill. (AP) — A western Illinois man faces sentencing in April now that he has admitted impregnating a girl when she was 13 years old.
The Quincy Herald-Whig reports that 21-year-old Caleb Veihl pleaded guilty Friday in Adams County Circuit Court to a charge of aggravated criminal sexual assault.
Prosecutors say that the investigation began in September 2012 when a Quincy schools employee notified police that an eighth-grade student, then 13, was pregnant and indicated Veihl was the fetus’ father.
Authorities say Veihl denied having had sex with the girl, though paternity testing confirmed after the child was born that Veihl was the father.
Veihl was charged last August.
He’s free on bond and scheduled for sentencing on April 3.
Pennsylvania
Intruder brought chocolate candy, wouldn’t leave
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Police have jailed a central Pennsylvania man on criminal trespass charges after he dropped of Valentine’s Day chocolates at an apartment, then refused to leave after returning a short time later.
Online court records don’t list an attorney for 24-year-old Alex Balgobin, who was arrested Saturday evening by police in State College.
Police tell the Centre Daily Times that Balgobin dropped off the box shortly before 5 p.m. with a note on one side that said “whore” and a note on the other side of the candy box saying, “she’s beautiful.”
Police say the apartment residents didn’t know Balgobin and were puzzled when he returned an hour later, sat down to watch TV, and refused to leave.
Police arrived and arrested and removed Balgobin who allegedly told officers he knew he wasn’t supposed to be there.
Indiana
Courthouse fire ruling goes against county
MADISON, Ind. (AP) — The state appeals court says contractors don’t have to pay a southern Indiana county part of the cost of repairing its historic courthouse following a 2009 fire.
The court last week upheld a lower court ruling against Jefferson County in its lawsuit against three contractors that were remodeling the courthouse before the fire.
The Madison Courier reports the court found the county didn’t buy a separate insurance plan for that remodeling project. The court ruled the county breached the project contract, which required it to notify contractors if it chose not to buy additional insurance to cover the project.
The May 2009 fire caused more than $6 million in damage to the 1855 courthouse.
The Associated Press left a phone message seeking comment from the county commissioners.
