Sylmar Man Sentenced in Cockfight
SYLMAR — A man was sentenced Tuesday to 60 days jail time or 45 days on a Caltrans work crew in connection with illegal cockfighting at his home.
Enrique Quiroz, 51, pleaded guilty in San Fernando Municipal Court to one count each of being present at an illegal animal fight and possessing, keeping and training a fighting bird, said Dist. Atty. Apraham Atteukenian, who handled the case.
Quiroz also received three years probation and was banned from possessing cockfighting paraphernalia.
Police raided Quiroz’s home May 29 and found a 15-by-20-foot makeshift arena in a building adjacent to his house. About 30 men fled when police arrived, Atteukenian said.
Officers found three garbage bags containing dead fighting birds outside the arena, more than 30 cages containing birds at the rear of the property, and a quantity of cockfighting paraphernalia.
“It was a big operation,” Atteukenian said.
Police called Los Angeles Animal Services officers, who seized 14 birds, five of which had been injured while fighting and had to be euthanized.
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