Eight Day Sentence in Cockfighting Charge

Justin Pierson
Post #8

In April, seven properties were raided in Dona Ana county New Mexico. Six-hundred and eighteen birds, as well as cockfighting paraphernalia were seized. Cockfighting was made illegal in New Mexico in 2007 and is considered a petty misdemeanor. One of the perpetrators, Ramon Torres, was found guilty and was sentenced to one-hundred and eighty days in jail, all but eight days of this sentence was suspended by the judge. This is significant because it is very unusual for the perpetrator in cockfighting cases to be sentenced to jail time. This, in fact, is the first time anyone in the State of New Mexico will serve jail time in a cockfighting case. The judge seemed to be creating a new standard within the State, cockfighting is not acceptable and will be punished with more than a slap on the wrist. Hopefully this decision sends the message that cockfighting is a vile business and ought to be punished accordingly.

This article shows the expansion of the law and the increased density of the law. The law has expanded to punish not only offenses committed against other humans but offenses committed against animals as well. The law, in relation to this case, has become more dense in that the punishments involved have become increasingly severe. This article also shows how the law demands retribution for such offenses and the law can act as a deterrent. The law requires that people are punished for participating in cockfighting and intuitively it seems that such individuals deserve the punishments they receive. Also with the punishments for cockfighting becoming more severe the law is attempting to deter further such acts. In my opinion, the punishment did not necessarily fit the crime, the offenders ought to receive even more severe punishments but hopefully this is just a small step for the state of New Mexico in pursuit of more ethical treatment of animals.

This article may be found in the October 15th issue of the Albuquerque Journal.