Getting your player ready...
A 41-year-old rural Weld County man was sentenced today to 180 days in jail and three years’ probation for hosting cockfights at his farm east of Gill.
Juan Manuel Mexmeza Franco pleaded guilty in May to attempted animal fighting.
Weld County sheriff’s deputies seized 16 roosters from the farm on Dec. 2, 2005. They also found many spurs, animal vitamins and supplements, video tapes and other items related to cock fighting, deputies said.
Franco was originally charged with 18 counts of animal fighting. His attorney, Al Cabral, argued in court today that Franco never engaged in cock fighting and that he was keeping the fighting material and roosters for friends and relatives in the area.
