4 in Hampton Co, SC fined After April Cock Fighting Charges

Four of the 37 people arrested back in April were in a Hampton County, SC courtroom today, on cockfighting charges, the first in Hampton County’s history.

Three of the four were found guilty by Judge Carolyn Williams:  34-year old Abel Hernandez of Early Branch, Rodulfo Lopez, 44, of Hilton Head and Ricardo Gonzalez, also of Hilton Head, were each ordered to pay $1,635 in fines.  Officials at the magistrate’s office say they each paid their fines and forfeited the $500 bond they posted back on April 18th. 

56-year old Antonio Guebara of Hardeeville pled guilty, and forfeited the $500 bond he posted back on April 18th so he could be released from jail. 

The cockfighting incident was in the Early Branch area of Hampton County.  More than $18,000 was confiscated during the operation while 53 roosters were seized and brought to the Community Animal Shelter of Hampton County.  They were then given to citizens in the county. 

Several agencies participated in the operation: the Hampton County Sheriff’s Office, the Hampton County Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the Department of Natural Resources.