ICYMI: Judge Dismisses Animal Cruelty Charges Against 5 Arrested at Alleged Tewksbury Cockfighting Ring: Report

Editor's Note: This story was originally posted earlier this week. Here it is again in case you missed it.

LOWELL, MA — A Lowell District Court judge dismissed animal cruelty charges against five people arrested in connection with an alleged illegal cockfighting ring in Tewksbury, reports the Lowell Sun.

Rafael Matoso Cardosa, 25, of Dracut; Carlos Castillo, 30, of Lawrence; Cynthia Gonzalez, 41, of Lawrence; Jorge Martinez, 43, of Fitchburg; and Daury Medina, 30, of Methuen will not be tried for animal cruelty after Judge Cesar Archilla ruled that there was no proof they were involved directly, according to the report.

The Lowell Sun also reports that a second charge of being present at an animal fight was not dismissed. Carlos Delacruz, 30, of Lawrence also reportedly accepted two years of pretrial probation on charges of animal cruelty and being present at an animal fight.

On Friday, March 11, Tewksbury Police arrested 24 people in connection with an illegal animal fighting ring. Twenty-two of these individuals were were all arrested and charged with cruelty to animals, and being present at an animal fight.

The Lowell Sun reports that 16 of the 24 arrested have had their cases disposed of with probation.

Read more from the Lowell Sun here.