Posted on: Friday, January 24, 2003

11 appear in court, 4 more arrested in cockfighting sweep

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau

WAILUKU, Maui — Eleven people appeared before Maui Circuit Court judges yesterday in connection with this week's police sweep that netted alleged members of two cockfighting organizations.

In addition to the 24 people arrested Wednesday, four more suspects were picked up as a result of grand jury indictments linked to a yearlong investigation of cockfighting rings operating in Wailuku, Pu'unene, Kahului and Ha'iku, police said yesterday.

Charges include racketeering, gambling and cruelty to animals. Racketeering, the most serious of the offenses, is a Class B felony carrying a maximum penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment and a $25,000 fine.

Among those arrested Wednesday was William E. Riddick, 47, of Ha'iku, a candidate for mayor in September's primary election. Riddick, who previously ran unsuccessfully for Maui County Council, finished a distant fourth in the four-candidate mayoral race, collecting about 1 percent of the vote.

The four additional suspects arrested are Daniel H. Lani, 35, of Wailuku; Glenwood Brown Jr., 54, of Ha'iku; Wilfred P. Brown, 59, of Wailuku; and Robert M. Barreras, 64, of Makawao.

Police issued a statement yesterday saying that because of the pending court cases, they are not releasing details of the investigation. The department, however, did issue this warning to the public: "Should illegal cockfighting or gambling be conducted on your property, with your knowledge, your property is subject to forfeiture.''

More arrests are expected.