Louisa G. Carlos, 31, pleaded no contest Jan. 5 in Laramie County Circuit Court to a single count of misdemeanor animal cruelty.
A no-contest plea literally means, “I will not contest it,” but it has the same effect as a guilty plea. Because a defendant who enters a no-contest plea does not have to admit to the facts of the case under oath, the plea cannot be used as an admission in other court proceedings.
The Laramie County District Attorney’s Office charged Carlos in January 2015 with felony animal cruelty.
Due to computer glitches, though, the count initially came out as a misdemeanor.
District Attorney Jeremiah Sandburg has said it was suggested to him it was likely no prosecuting office in the state had filed a felony animal cruelty charge since state legislators added the crime to the books in 2011.
Carlos’ case wound up being taken care of in circuit court, rather than district court.
As a result of ongoing plea negotiations, a new misdemeanor animal cruelty charge was filed Dec. 2 against Carlos in circuit court.
That charge accused her of knowingly being present where roosters were engaged in an exhibition of fighting with other roosters for amusement or gain.
Carlos was sentenced on that count earlier this month to 180 days in jail, suspended in favor of six months of unsupervised probation, and ordered to pay $4,358.45 in restitution, along with $190 in court costs.
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| The birds were taken in by a rescue group |
Court documents say Carlos has until Feb. 1 to pay the court fees and until May 6 to pay her restitution.
The restitution is meant to cover the cost of caring for dozens of confiscated fowl that wound up being housed at the Cheyenne Animal Shelter for a significant amount of time before an unidentified vegan animal sanctuary in Colorado adopted them.
Laramie County Sheriff’s Department deputies discovered the cockfighting operation in December 2014 after receiving tips from multiple community members.
Deputies executed a search warrant at Carlos’ residence at 1908 County Road 217 on the morning of Dec. 27, 2014, after working for weeks to corroborate those tips.
Luis H. Carlos-Garcia, Louisa Carlos’ significant other at the time she was charged, also was charged with felony animal cruelty. He is believed to have been the ringleader of the cockfighting operation.
Authorities have said Carlos-Garcia fled the area and has not yet been located.
Court documents indicate he likely was living in the country illegally.
There is a warrant out for Carlos-Garcia's arrest on the felony charge, and Sandburg said officials are actively seeking the public's help in locating him.
Carlos-Garcia was sentenced in August 2010 to five years of probation with an underlying prison sentence of two to four years for felony possession of cocaine, according to court records. A warrant is currently out for his arrest for violating that probation by not reporting to the probation and parole office after his sentencing.
Court records also show that Carlos-Garcia was deported to Mexico a month after his sentencing in September 2010.
During the search, deputies found sparring gear and drug paraphernalia typically associated with cockfighting, along with a dead rooster in a feed bag with apparent injuries to his head, chest and feet.
Animal Control officers assisted that day with seizing about 75 roosters from the property.
(Wyoming Tribune Eagle - Jan 16, 2016)
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