14 charged in connection with Casey County chicken fighting event

Editor’s note: This article has been updated following the Kentucky State Police’s correction of individuals charged and cited to court.

BETHELRIDGE, Ky. ( FOX 56 ) — Over a dozen people have been arrested after an investigation into an organized chicken-fighting ring in Casey County.

According to a news release, the Kentucky State Police in Columbia began an investigation after an animal cruelty complaint was reported in Casey County on Sunday.

Around 12 p.m. on Sunday, someone called the police, saying there was an organized chicken-fighting event happening at a home on Kentucky 837.

When police arrived at the home, they made contact with several people and found a caged area with seating around it for spectators, several injured chickens, and a space for concessions, according to the release.

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Two people, 59-year-old Leo Harris and 39-year-old Christopher Harris, both from Bethelridge, were arrested, charged with second-degree cruelty to animals, and lodged in the Casey County Detention Center.

Twelve more people were charged and cited to court for second-degree cruelty to animals, including:

• Steven Wesley, age 35 of Science Hill
• Tiffany Robinson, age 35 of Liberty
• Brandon Mounce, age 39 of Lancaster
• Randall Emerson, age 49 of Bethelridge
• Kaleb Chansler, age 33 of Middleburg
• Ronald Sharp, age 47 of Russell Springs
• Dormas Bullock, age 72 of Eubank
• Jeffrey Owens, age 53 of Stanford
• David Bradshaw, age 65 of Bethelridge
• Patrick Harris, age 30 of Liberty
• Dakota Ford, age 29 of Salvisa
• Janafer Denson, age 39 Crab Orchard

The investigation is ongoing.

Animal Wellness Action and Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) applauded the work of KSP in a Tuesday news release.

“We are grateful to the Kentucky State Police for dramatically stepping up its anti-cockfighting enforcement actions,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action. “We often know precisely where the cockfighting arenas are located and when the fights are set to occur. When cockfighting organizers and attendees understand that law enforcement is serious about busting up these fighting rings, they will retreat and halt this form of animal abuse.”

“SHARK has been critical of the Kentucky State Police in past years for not acting on information of staged illegal fights, but we have nothing but praise for the agency and its officers for busting this cockfight in Casey County and taking prior actions that reflect serious action to halt this barbarism,” said Steve Hindi, president of SHARK.

Leaders from Animal Wellness Action and SHARK said they provided a “roadmap” for Kentucky law enforcement in 2023 by identifying 15 major operational cockfighting locations.

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“In addition to providing a venue for animal cruelty and other crimes, cockfighting puts a coal-black stain on Kentucky’s reputation across the country and the world,” said Pam Rogers, state director for Animal Wellness Action. “Tougher laws and more crackdowns like this one underscore that we are a family- and business-friendly state that believes in the rule of law.”

To help combat cockfighting and dogfighting, Animal Wellness Action said it offers a cash reward not only for information that leads to arrests and convictions but also for tips on the whereabouts of planned or occurring fights.

Tipsters can contact animalcrueltytips@animalwellnessaction.org with any leads.

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