Police: 14 charged after Kentucky cockfighting ring broken up

Christopher Leach
·2 min read
46

Several people have been charged after officials found a cockfighting ring Sunday in Casey County, according to Kentucky State Police.

Around noon KSP received a report about an organized cockfighting event at a home at 5907 KY 837 in Bethelridge. KSP learned about the event off a tip from Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK), non-profit organization that fights against forms of animal cruelty.

KSP said troopers found a caged area surrounded by seating for spectators, several injured chickens and a concessions area.

Leo Harris, 59, and Christopher Harris, 39, were charged with second-degree cruelty to animals, according to KSP. Court documents say Leo Harris owns the property and is the father to Christopher Harris, who grew up at the property.

Multiple people fled the residence when troopers arrived at the house, according to court documents. The following 12 individuals were cited for second-degree cruelty to animals:

  • Steven Wesley, 35, of Science Hill

  • Tiffany Robinson, 35, of Liberty

  • Dakota Ford, 29, of Salvisa

  • Janafer Denson, 39, of Crab Orchard

  • Brandon Mounce, 39, of Lancaster

  • Randall Emerson, 49, of Bethelridge

  • Kaleb Chansler, 33, of Middleburg

  • Ronald Sharp, 47, of Russell Springs

  • Dormas Bullock, 72, of Eubank

  • Jeffrey Owens, 53, of Stanford

  • David Bradshaw, 65, of Bethelridge

  • Shawn Harris, 35, of Russell Springs

Court documents for the suspects said multiple dead chickens and chicken spurs were also found at the residence.

Leo and Christopher Harris are being held at the Casey County Detention Center on a $1,500 bond, according to court records. The incident is being investigated by KSP.

SHARK President Steve Hindi praised KSP’s efforts in its investigation.

“SHARK has been critical of the Kentucky State Police in past years for not acting on information of staged illegal fights, but we have nothing but praise for the agency and its officers for busting this cockfight in Casey County and taking prior actions that reflect serious action to halt this barbarism,” Hindi said in a press release.