A rural Johnson County cockfighting ring was abruptly shut down today when a multi-agency team raided a property in unincorporated Cleburne, leaving one Waxahachie man in handcuffs and a grim scene of dead and injured birds behind.
Deputies say they rolled up on an active operation, finding a fighting pit, several dead or hurt gamecocks and equipment investigators believe was used to stage organized bouts. One man tried to drive away from the chaos but did not make it far before being detained, authorities said. He now faces counts of cockfighting, cruelty to animals and evading arrest. The investigation is still underway, and officials say more arrests could follow.
According to local law enforcement, the raid was conducted by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from Bosque County authorities, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and Texas Parks & Wildlife. Investigators reported evidence consistent with recent fights, including a dedicated ring and birds showing traumatic injuries. As reported by FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth, the suspect was identified as Nicandro Mora of Waxahachie, who was taken into custody after attempting to flee by car.
Charges and the law
Mora was booked on alleged offenses that carry serious weight under Texas law. The state’s cockfighting statute lays out a range of penalties, from state-jail felonies for causing a cock to fight or sharing in the proceeds, to Class A misdemeanors for staging events or possessing fighting implements, according to the Texas Penal Code. Each count can stack up quickly when tied to an organized operation, something authorities say they will sort out as the case develops…