Elementary School Principal Arrested In Cockfighting Raid

KEOTA, Okla. (AP) -- The principal of a small eastern Oklahoma elementary school has been arrested during a raid of a cockfighting arena in western Arkansas.<br/><br/>Keota Elementary School principal

Thursday, May 24th 2007, 3:39 pm

By: News On 6

KEOTA, Okla. (AP) -- The principal of a small eastern Oklahoma elementary school has been arrested during a raid of a cockfighting arena in western Arkansas.

Keota Elementary School principal Bill McNatt is one of about 80 people arrested during the weekend raid about 20 miles north of Fort Smith.

Investigators believe McNatt was a ringleader of the operation.

McNatt had planned to retire in a few weeks but is now being told not to return to campus.

Superintendent Charles Brown says he knew McNatt was involved in cockfighting before it was outlawed in Oklahoma but says the arrest was a complete surprise.

Keota is in Haskell County about 12 miles east of Stigler.