All charges filed against a Harrah area woman in connection with an illegal cockfighting operation more than a year and half ago have been dismissed, court records show.
But a trial date for the man from the Harrah area charged in connection with that operation has been set for October.
Justin James McHone, 38, and Tara Kay Gentry, 42, were arrested and transported to the Lincoln County Jail in Chandler after law enforcement officers discovered an illegal cockfighting operation in Lincoln County.
The pair was arrested as law enforcement officers from several agencies were executing a search warrant.
On Jan. 22, 2020, formal charges were filed in Lincoln County District Court in Chandler.
Each was charged with instigating/encouraging cockfight; keeping place/equipment/facility for cockfighting; and own/possess/keep/ train bird for fighting.
On March 4, 2020 an amended information was filed and they each faced an additional 85 charges of own/ possess/keep/ train bird for fighting.
That increased the total 88 to felony charges each faced.
Court records show that a little over two weeks ago on March 25 this year, a the state dismissed all the charges against Gentry.
In March of this year, McHone waived his preliminary hearing, court records show.
Three weeks ago, on May 11, during his arraignment before District Judge Cindy Ashwood, McHone pleaded not guilty. Judge Ashwood set the cause for the felony disposition docket at 9:30 a.m. on Sep. 28 and she set a jury trial for 9 a.m. on Oct. 18, this year.
During the search of the property for stolen items, deputies along with investigators noticed approximately 60 Game fowl most commonly known as “Fighting Cocks.”
The Game fowl were in a fenced area with individual housing and were tethered to the housing, officers reported. Continuing their search of the property, investigators found an arena in a barn that had indications of what appeared to be dried blood on the walls.
On further searching the area, investigators found animal medication and cockfighting spurs with blood on the leather straps.