Nine individuals have been arrested following a raid on an illegal cockfighting operation in northern Parker County on Sunday, April 6th. The arrests were made based on an anonymous tip received through Crime Stoppers.
Upon arrival at the property, Parker County Sheriff’s deputies and investigators observed approximately 40 people fleeing into a nearby wooded area. Inside a metal barn, they discovered a cockfighting ring. Throughout the property, investigators found deceased roosters in plastic bags and wheelbarrows, along with five severely wounded roosters – two in the ring and three outside. Authorities also located numerous live roosters caged nearby and inside vehicles.
The property owner, identified as Jesus Baldemar Zurita, 50, of Weatherford, was arrested and charged with state jail felony cockfighting/causes or earns. Sheriff Russ Authier stated that Zurita owned six of the roosters believed to have been fighting and had agreed to host the operation for “work friends,” charging spectators a $40 entry fee. His bond was set at $10,000.
A search warrant executed on the property led to the seizure of 96 roosters, a box trailer, six vehicles, and $15,550 in cash believed to be proceeds from the illegal gambling. Investigators also confiscated over 50 “slashers” or “gaffs,” razor-sharp, curved, spiked spurs attached to roosters' legs for fighting.
In addition to Zurita, Gloria Franco Govea, 59, of Azle, was charged with cockfighting/space/owns or trains, with a bond of $2,500. Seven other individuals were arrested and charged with cockfighting, each with a bond of $1,166: Alfredo Ibarra, 28, of Boyd; J Jesus Alvarado, 35, of Fort Worth; Emilio Lopez Leal, 48, of Windthorst; Jesus Nieto, 17, of Gainsville; Efren Palomo, 30, of Laredo; Miguel Tovar Rodriguez, 46, of White Settlement; and Francisco Armando Garcia-Gonzales, 53, of Fort Worth. Garcia-Gonzales also had a no-bond ICE detainer.
Rosalinda Cisneros, 45, was issued a Class C misdemeanor citation for participating as a spectator and was released at the scene.
Sheriff Authier expressed his gratitude to Animal Investigation and Response (AIR), a Fort Worth-based non-profit organization, for their assistance in housing, feeding, and caring for the seized roosters. A Weatherford Animal Shelter veterinarian will assess the injured birds. The placement of the animals and seized items will be determined at a later property hearing.
