ERNESTO ROCHA RAMIREZ arrested in connection with “elaborate cockfighting training facility”

- Texas, USA -

Parker County Sheriff Russ Authier announced the arrest of 45-year-old ERNESTO ROCHA RAMIREZ (pictured).

On March 23, 2026, Animal Control Officers responded to a residence in north central Parker County for an animal welfare check. Sheriff Authier said that ACOs discovered “an elaborate cockfighting training facility where roosters were not only being groomed, conditioned, and trained for cockfighting, but tortured and mutilated as well”.

According to the press release by the sheriff's office, ACOs found “several deceased and partially burnt chicken carcasses located in a burn barrel on the property”. Additionally, ACOs saw numerous wounded chickens who displayed “injuries indicative of cockfighting”, stated the release.

Deputies and investigators who were called to the scene executed an animal seizure warrant, during which they recovered injured birds who had been “ ‘LIVE PLUCKED ’ having feathers ripped from the bird’s breast and legs, and feathers shaved from the bird’s backs”.

According to the press release, “The practice of live plucking is done to condition a rooster as it’s being trained for cockfighting”.

On several of the birds, the natural spurs on the backsides of their legs had been cut excessively short. As explained in the press release, “This practice is done on fighting roosters so that steel fighting gaffs, spurs, and blades can be better fitted to the bird’s legs, making the rooster’s spurring action more lethal in a fight and giving the rooster a killing advantage”.

Investigators said there were over two hundred chicken coops and many of them were filled with dead birds. Several birds were also found in single bird transport containers.

Officials reported finding several bottles of injectable steroids as well as a structure that housed a large room containing rooster decoys and other instruments used to train fighting roosters.

During this initial phase of the investigation, fourteen (14) hens and twenty-eight (28) roosters were removed from the property and taken to a local veterinarian. The veterinarian determined that “the birds had endured cruel and unnecessary treatment at the hands of their owner and caretaker”. The vet stated, “there is no medical reason for these birds to have been live plucked or to have their spurs cut so short”, and explained how these acts would cause unnecessary and unjustified pain to the animals and is consistent with the definition of torture.

The investigation led to the issuance of warrants for the arrest of ROCHA RAMIREZ.

RAMIREZ was taken into custody on March 31, 2026, and charged with cockfighting and cruelty to livestock, both felonies.

In addition to being arrested, investigators said that RAMIREZ was in the U.S. illegally, so an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer was placed on him pending a deportation hearing.

On April 2, 2026, investigators returned to the residence in question and with the assistance of Fort Worth based emergency animal response group Animal Investigations and

Response, an additional three hundred and fifty-nine (359) birds were removed and taken to the Weatherford Animal Shelter.

In a written statement, Sheriff Authier said: “…whether it swims, flies, walks, or crawls we take animal cruelty cases very seriously here in Parker County”.

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release by the Parker County Sheriff's Office. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

Mugshot shared from the Parker County Jail.

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