EDWARD "Wally" Clemons never saw it coming.
Clemons, in his early 60’s, was arrested last Wednesday after authorities were tipped off by a "cocky" interview he gave a Filipino magazine.
The Humane Society of the United States tipped off the Indiana Gaming Control Division to the potential breeding operation.
John Goodwin, manager for animal fighting issues with the humane society, said his organization discovered the operation after Clemons gave an interview to a Pit Games, a Filipino magazine dedicated to cockfighting.
"It’s clearly a cockfighting magazine," Goodwin said.
On the cover of issue #31, the magazine tells readers there’s a story inside about "Wally Clemons: The breeder from Indiana."
Inside, the story describes breeding for different styles — American, Filipino and Mexican. Goodwin said this is industry-speak for different fighting styles. Each style puts different types of blades on the animals’ feet for the fights.
"They gave him about eight pages of glossy full color print to this individual touting his roosters," said Goodwin.
Goodwin said the humane society closely monitors the international magazines to find domestic cases.
About 200 total roosters were seized. Officials say they were all part of an illegal breeding and selling operation Clemons has been running for at least four years at his Fairland home.
Investigators said the animals didn’t fight on this farm. They were just raised here and then sold to people who would take them to other places like Southern Indiana and Kentucky, even other parts of the world to fight.
Fighting cocks can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000 each.
If Clemons is charged, gaming officials said he could face charges ranging from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class D felony.
Cockfighting is a huge sport in some countries including the Philippines.
Established in 1994, Pit Games is primarily engaged in publishing and printing about game fowl, cockfighting, and the gaming industry. (AJPress with reports from AP)
( Published August 7, 2010 in Asian Journal Los Angeles p. A7 )
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