Gold Bar man allegedly held cockfighting bouts

GOLD BAR — A Gold Bar man posed for pictures with some of the roosters he allegedly was training to fight to the death.

Investigators found photographs of Juan Carlos Gomez Fierros with fighting fowl when they raided his property in 2011, according to court papers recently filed in Snohomish County Superior Court.

They also found 59 roosters, a cockfighting arena in the garage and a freshly dug pit where the losing roosters ended up. Investigators were told that Gomez Fierros, 31, hosted death matches for roosters on his property.

In cockfighting competitions, participants bet on which rooster will be victorious in winner-take-all bouts. Roosters typically are fitted with razor blades on their feet and are trained to slash their opponents to death.

They sometimes are injected with vitamins to increase their stamina and energy. The birds also have their combs, wattles and earlobes removed for fighting purposes, court papers said.

Prosecutors last week charged Gomez Fierros with animal fighting, a felony.

The Gold Bar property where he lived came to the attention of authorities through a confidential informant, who reported that multiple locations throughout Snohomish County were being used for cockfighting.

In November 2011, police officers from around the county swarmed the Gold Bar property. Dozens of people were at the scene; some of them fled into the woods. In all, 17 people were arrested.

A cockfighting expert from the Humane Society of the United States helped with search. He pointed out an area in the garage that was consistent with a fighting arena, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Elise Deschenes wrote in court papers. A single rooster was found inside a pen in the arena.

The rooster had been “dubbed,” meaning someone had cut off some of the bird’s vulnerable body parts, including its wattle and comb. The expert also noticed that the rooster was fitted with a strap that could be used to attach a blade to the rooster’s leg.

Investigators also found other equipment commonly associated with cockfighting, including blades and miniature boxing gloves that fit over their spurs and are used during sparring matches, court papers said.

Inside the house, police found magazines about cockfighting, advertisements for supplies and the photographs of the defendant with birds.

All the roosters were seized by the Humane Society of the United States.

This wasn’t the first time police investigated cockfighting in Snohomish County. In 2008, a Snohomish-area property was raided after investigators were tipped off to illegal gaming. Police found dozens of birds that were being raised, trained and sold.

A Snohomish man was sentenced to two months in jail after pleading guilty to animal fighting.

Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

Snohomish County Health Department Director Dennis Worsham on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County Health Department director tapped as WA health secretary

Dennis Worsham became the first director of the county health department in January 2023. His last day will be July 3.

Marysville police searching for missing 10-year-old boy

Police said the boy was last seen Sunday morning before left to go for a run at a nearby middle school.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Red tape hangs in the front of the entrance to a burned down Center for Human Services building along 204th Street on Monday, July 7, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood fire destroys behavioral health nonprofit building

The cause of the fire is under investigation. The building housed an intensive mental health support program for youth and families.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Gold Bar in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Lynnwood man dies in fatal crash on US 2 near Gold Bar

The Washington State Patrol said the driver was street racing prior to the crash on Friday afternoon.

Thousands gather to watch fireworks over Lake Ballinger from Nile Shrine Golf Course and Lake Ballinger Park on Thursday, July 3, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Thousands ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ at Mountlake Terrace fireworks show

The city hosts its Independence Day celebrations the day before the July 4 holiday.

Liam Shakya, 3, waves at a float passing by during the Fourth of July Parade on Friday, July 4, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett celebrates Fourth of July with traditional parade

Thousands celebrated Independence Day by going to the annual parade, which traveled through the the city’s downtown core.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.