54°
Manfid Duran, 49, and Mara Duran, 50, are each charged with felony aggravated cruelty to animals, authorities said.
Plumstead police and the Bucks County SPCA said they uncovered a cockfight in a Doylestown garage on Feb. 18. Twenty-five people were said to have fled when authorities arrived.
Manfid Duran was arrested following a Swamp Road traffic stop on March 3, and Mara Duran surrendered to police on an arrest warrant on March 7, officials said.
At the scene of the cockfighting bust last month, police said they found Cesar Cordova-Morales carrying a satchel containing several bottles of steroids, cutting instruments, string, artificial metal spurs, spur covers, and other items commonly used in the bloodsport.
Two bloodied roosters who were loose and injured from their recent fighting were among nearly 50 roosters, hens, and pullets kept in cages and small boxes in and around the garage, the Bucks SPCA said. Two more were recovered from a locked vehicle in the driveway. Four freshly killed roosters were found in a barrel behind the garage, responders said.
The caged animals had no food, inadequate shelter, and frozen water bowls. Many of the roosters had had their combs and wattles cut off, a common practice with birds used for fighting.
Other roosters were found to have injuries and deep puncture wounds likely the result of fighting. An investigation of the property turned up razor-sharp metal blades (spurs) that are tied to the rooster’s legs to inflict maximum harm on their opponents.
Cordova-Morales was charged with animal fighting and related counts, court records show.
Mara Duran was released after posting $100,000 bail while Manfid Duran is being held in lieu of 10 percent of $750,000. Each has a preliminary hearing scheduled for March 18.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Bristol and receive free news updates.
