SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- A Springfield man, who was arrested in a cockfighting bust, appeared in court on Thursday.

As of Thursday afternoon, 36-year-old Juan Pinero Perez is only being charged for one crime and it doesn’t have anything to do with animal abuse. Police said that the situation has been under investigation for several months and, on Wednesday, he was arrested following a search warrant that was executed at his residence on Chapin Terrace, specifically related to narcotics and illegal cockfighting. At the property, police found over 60 birds, plus items consistent with the raising and keeping of birds for fighting purposes.

According to court paperwork from Thursday’s hearing, four grams of cocaine and materials related to cocaine distribution were found in the basement of the house. The court documents indicated that Pinero Perez is being charged with possession of a Class B drug with the intent to distribute and he is being held at $2,500 cash bail. That is the only charge currently filed against Pinero Perez.

Further charges will be submitted at a later date by the MSPCA in relation to animal cruelty and illegal cockfighting. We have reached back out to the MSPCA for details on what will happen to the birds now that they have been rescued, but we have not yet heard back. We also spoke with the Humane Society of Massachusetts, but they were unable to speak with us on-camera today.

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