Animal Fighting: Man, Woman Accused Of Training, Breeding Chickens For Sport Fighting

OSWEGO, IL — Two Oswego Township residents are accused of owning, training and breeding chickens for sport fighting, according to the Kendall County Sheriff's Office.

Jose Alejandro Martinez, 40, and 46-year-old Veronica Jaime, both of the 1000 block of Harvey Road in Oswego Township, were charged in connection with violations of the Animals in Entertainment Act, after the Kendall County Sheriff's Office began investigating on June 22.

Detectives recovered a "significant number of chickens" as well as evidence while executing a search warrant Tuesday, according to police. The chickens are being cared for by Kendall County Animal Control, officials said.

Martinez and Jaime are both charged with the following:

• 10 counts of felony violations of the Animals in Entertainment Act (own animal for sport fighting)
• 10 counts of felony violations of the Animals in Entertainment Act (train animal for sport fighting)
• 1 count of felony violation of the Animals in Entertainment Act (breed animal for sport fighting)
• 3 counts of misdemeanor possession of ammo without a Firearm Owners Identification card

Martinez and Jaime were booked at the Kendall County jail Monday and released with pre-trial conditions Tuesday. Both are due back in court July 25.

The sheriff's office continues investigating the incident, according to a Wednesday morning news release.