Although evidence against two men arrested on cockfighting charges last week were overwhelming, The Yuma County Attorney has refused to press charges.
Arizona voters approved a proposition in 1998 that declared cockfighting to be a Class 5 Felony and determined one to be guilty of cockfighting by
1. OWNING, POSSESSING, KEEPING OR TRAINING ANY COCK WITH THE INTENT THAT SUCH COCK ENGAGE IN AN EXHIBITION OF FIGHTING WITH ANOTHER COCK.
2. FOR AMUSEMENT OR GAIN, CAUSING ANY COCK TO FIGHT WITH ANOTHER COCK OR CAUSING ANY COCKS TO INJURE EACH OTHER.
3. PERMITTING ANY ACT IN VIOLATION OF PARAGRAPH 1 OR 2 TO BE DONE ON ANY PREMISES UNDER HIS CHARGE OR CONTROL.
Apparently, however, the County Attorney's Office is not interested in such voter-approved legal definitions.
According to Chief Criminal Deputy County Attorney Roger Nelson, his office declined to file felony charges against the two men, who were both in the country illegally, saying he felt the crime could be best handled as a misdemeanor.\
"We aren't saying a crime didn't happen, we are just saying we aren't going to file it as afelony," Nelson said.
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