2 Milwaukee men charged with cockfighting in Mequon

Raising chickens is permitted in Mequon; fighting roosters is not.

Two Milwaukee men found that out Thursday when they were arrested for cockfights they were holding on the suburb's west side, a criminal complaint says.

According to the complaint filed Friday:

Mequon police responded to an address on W. Mequon Road, west of Granville Road, about 11:45 a.m. Thursday after a complaint about possible animal cruelty.

The officer saw three men standing amid cages with chickens and roosters, then watched as two of the men set two roosters on the ground that began "to spur at each other, flare their wings, and peck at each other."

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Then the two men brought out two more roosters, which also began fighting. The officer saw the men herd the roosters toward each other and cut off the birds' possible retreat routes.

When the officer approached the men, they admitted letting the roosters fight but said there were no bets on the outcome.

Chong Choua Xae, 38, and Muajhmong Yang, 20, each were charged Friday with instigating fights between animals, a felony that carries a possible 18-month prison term. Yang made an initial court appearance Friday and was released on a $2,000 signature bond and ordered not to possess any animals.

Xae's initial court appearances is set for next month.

Xae told the officer that Yang had challenged his rooster to fight and he agreed, and brought several roosters out on Thursday, according to the complaint.

Mequon Police Capt. Daniel Buntrock said both men rent coop space from the property owner, and that a real estate agent showing a property for sale next door noticed the cockfighting and called police.