About half of those involved in the cock fighting incident in the Yaqui Gulch area on Jan. 24 have entered guilty pleas in Mariposa County Superior Court. All 18 who appeared on Monday admitted trespassing infractions that will cost them $496 each.

The incident ended with a total of 36 arrests, 70 impounded chickens and $29,650 cash. An anonymous call about the incident tipped Mariposa County Sheriff’s Deputies to the activity on Heritage Lane, in the Yaqui Gulch area.

Those who were in court on Monday faced infractions, rather than misdemeanors or felonies because they were only spectators. The property owner said he was not aware that the cock fights were occurring, thereby making them trespassers.

The owner of the property, Rafael Conejo, reportedly lives in Atwater and was not arrested as he apparently was not at the house during the cock fight.

The investigation into the incident is far from over, however. District Attorney Bob Brown said his office expects more serious charges to be forthcoming against others involved in the incident. About three or four of those who were scheduled to appear on Monday did not show up for court.

This is not the first big cock fighting bust in Mariposa County. In the late 1970s, law enforcement busted another in very similar fashion. It was Superbowl Sunday, and was raining, Sheriff Brian Muller remembered. That day, deputies took in about 100 people.

Muller said that 30 arrrests in one day is high, but not a record. He remembers a time when his department would round up 40 or 50 a night during the fair.