Posted on: Thursday, March 13, 2003

Suspects in Maui cockfight ring freed

Advertiser Staff

WAILUKU, Maui — Racketeering, gambling and animal cruelty charges were dismissed against most of the 35 people charged in two suspected cockfighting rings, but a Maui prosecutor said he would seek new indictments.

Maui Circuit Court judges Shackley Raffetto and Joseph Cardoza dismissed the charges Tuesday after defense attorneys pointed to grand jury transcripts noting that one juror had said he was related to a defendant and offered, "He's guilty."

Deputy Prosecutor J.W. Hupp tried to argue that the remark was made in jest, but the judges agreed it undermined the process.

Hupp said yesterday he would present the same evidence to a different grand jury panel in an effort to re-indict the defendants, who form part of a group of 35 people arrested after a yearlong police investigation into cockfighting and gambling.

Meanwhile, negotiations continue on possible plea agreements, Hupp said.

The cases before Raffetto were connected to an investigation into hundreds of cockfighting matches held at the old Maui High School campus at Hamakuapoko.

The cases heard by Cardoza related to matches held at the Old Maui Block in Waikapu and near Maui Raceway Park in Pu'unene.

Some people arrested in the January police sweeps were involved in both operations, according to the indictments.