Bonds Set for 11 In Rooster Animal Fighting Case

The Starke County Prosecutors Office appeared Monday afternoon in Starke Circuit Court and presented evidence to Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall attempting to show that probable cause exists for charging the eleven individuals with crimes pertaining to a raid Saturday morning in rural Starke County.

The Starke County, City of Knox, North Judson , Conservation Officers and Indiana State Police raided an illegal fighting rooster contest in which resulted in  over seventy people being arrested, cars, fire arms, drug paraphernalia and over forty thousand dollars were confiscated and one hundred and forty five birds having to be destroyed by the Starke County Humane Society. 

The Court found evidence indicated  probable cause existed that crimes had been committed and set bonds for the eleven individuals between ten thousand and fifteen thousand per person.  The charges include Animal Fighting Contest a class D felony. 

 It is believe that the remaining people arrested were charged with a class A misdemeanors for attending an animal fighting contest and released by the Knox City Court on their own recognizence and will appear in Knox City Court at a later date.  

Initial hearings for the eleven defendents in Starke Circuit Court charged with felonies  will be held Wednesday March 2, 2011 at 1.30CST in Starke Circuit Court.