14 Receive $972 Fines in Cockfighting Case

Fourteen men arrested last month at a Panorama City cockfight were fined $972 each and placed on three years probation Thursday after pleading no contest to charges they participated in cockfighting.

A 15th defendant entered his plea Monday, said Rick Schmidt of the city attorney’s office. Municipal Judge Alan Ellis barred the men from possessing roosters or cockfighting paraphernalia while they are on probation.

Neighbors disturbed by noise summoned police May 29 to a house in the 8300 block of Ranchito Avenue, where officers from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Van Nuys Division found men counting money and a cockfight in progress in the garage.

Police also found 15 fighting cocks, including two that were seriously injured. Two other roosters already were dead. Fighting spurs, energy-enhancing drugs for the roosters, ankle ties and several firearms also were seized.

The city attorney’s office identified the men as Simplicio Vargas, 31, the owner of the house; Ramon Castro, 40, of Arcadia; Gem Famatid, 41, and Josifino Guerarra, 58, of Carson; Marcelina Montero, 43, of Lake View Terrace; Nonito Jucaban, 44, of North Hills; Abelandor Valera, 44, of Granada Hills; Fred Palafox, 55, and Jun Dairo, 27, of Inglewood; John Belmundo, 23 of Burbank; Asterio Valera, 42, of West Hills; Macario Tadena, 33, of Arleta; and Melbert Tato, 18; Richardo Pasiliao, 43, and Enrique Paragas, 42, of Panorama City.

The roosters were turned over to the city’s Department of Animal Regulation.