Terlton Man Arrested For Raising Roosters For Cockfighting

A Terlton man is behind bars after deputies seized more than 40 roosters that, they said, were being raised for cockfighting.

Deputies said Gary Williams is responsible for running the cockfighting farm.

Deputies spent much of Friday afternoon looking all over the property on the west side of Terlton after they learned someone might be raising chickens for cockfighting, which is illegal in Oklahoma.

Animal advocate, Ruth Steinberger was upset by the whole thing.

"They may not look abused in this setting, but that's preparation for a setting in which they're going to die a torturous death. Some will," Steinberger said.

Deputies arrested Williams at his home on a complaint of keeping a facility for cockfighting.

Pawnee County Sheriff, Mike Waters said, "Once he was explained what the arrest warrant was for he was transported to the Pawnee County Jail on the felony charge."

Steinberger helped deputies cage and transport more than 40 of the seized roosters and some hens.

"It's incredible cruelty. I mean, how they're housed and cared for is an investment in how they're going to kill each other," she said.

Investigators said they found items on the farm that are used on the roosters during the cockfighting matches.

The seizure surprised neighbor Karen Holloway. She said she had no idea someone was raising roosters in her neighborhood.

"That's unusual for around here," she said. “I didn't know anybody in the area was still doing that, it's a real shock to me."

Williams is being held at the Pawnee County Jail on a $45,000 bond.

Oklahoma was the last state to ban cockfighting. It's now a felony with some serious penalties.

If convicted, Williams could face up to ten years in prison and a $25,000 fine.