State lawmakers weighing felony penalties for animal fighting participants

COLUMBUS

Spectators who pay to watch, bet or provide supplies for cockfighting and other animal-fighting rings would face increased criminal penalties, under legislation passed by the Ohio House on Wednesday.

HB 215 passed on a vote of 85-7 and heads to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.

In Youngstown, authorities investigated two separate cockfighting rings during the same week in January.

On the East Side, U.S. Marshals happened upon 20 birds and another 25 that were dead Jan. 26 at a Myron Street home. Two days later, authorities served a search warrant at an East Lucius Avenue home on the South Side and found several birds there as well. So far, no charges have been filed in either case.

Existing law already prohibits cockfighting, bear baiting or pitting animals against one another, with misdemeanor charges possible.

HB 215 adds potential felony charges for being employed by such animal-fighting rings, betting on results, paying admission to events and related activities. Offenders could face fines of up to $10,000, though jail sentences would not be mandated.

Read more about the measure in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.