Princess in cockfighting case gets probation

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Princess in cockfighting case gets probation
By STEVEN DUBOIS, Associated Press | October 22, 2014 | Updated: October 22, 2014 6:02pm

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A Romanian princess was sentenced Wednesday to probation after apologizing for her role in an Oregon cockfighting enterprise that she said brought shame to her and her family.

"I'm very sorry about my involvement in this business," Irina Walker told a federal judge before she was given three years' probation. "It was not my intention to go against the law."

She and her husband John Walker both pleaded guilty in July to operating an illegal gambling business. John Walker, a former sheriff's deputy, was also sentenced to probation by U.S. District Judge Michael Mosman.

As part of the plea deal, the Walkers agreed to sell real estate and pay $200,000 to the government.
Irina Walker, 61, is the third daughter of former Romanian King Michael I, who was forced to abdicate by communists in 1947.

~snip~
The Walkers charged spectators each $20 to watch roosters with knives attached to their legs fight to the death. Crowds generally exceeded 100 people, and the couple also made money from the sale of alcohol.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Princess-in-cockfighting-case-gets-probation-5840848.php

[NaturalHigh]

1. Disgusting.

What makes people want to watch animals suffer?

[Pakhet]

2. they'd rather use people,

but that's not allowed yet, so hey, we'll just use animals for now instead.

[davidpdx]

9. I don't know

But she got a slap on the wrist. Yeah the fine was heavy, but my guess is that was negotiated to offset the prison sentence.

[valerief]

3. Who are these fucking spectators? Sick bastards. nt

[jaysunb]

4. Too bad Michael Vick is not a Princess.....n/t

[LeftyMom]

5. Today in shit you couldn't make up if you tried:

The princess later divorced her husband and married Walker, a family friend and neighbor. The couple moved to sparsely populated Irrigon and lived in a triple-wide manufactured home.

Seriously though, you don't want to be a notorious convicted animal abuser in Oregon. You really, really don't.

[Shemp Howard]

6. There are no Romanian princesses!

Last edited Thu Oct 23, 2014, 01:32 AM - Edit history (1)

This sort of thing really drives me crazy. In 1947 Romania abolished the monarchy. There are no Romanian kings, queens, princes, or princesses.

She can call herself a princess based on some family lineage that nobody recognizes, or cares about. And I can call myself the King of Idaho based on a conversation I once had with a magic unicorn. Same difference.

(My apologies to the OP for going a bit off-topic.)

[greatlaurel]

7. Thank you. The fake royalty stuff drives me crazy, too.

Chicken fighting is very nasty business. Lots of organized crime involvement. There is a lot of it here in Ohio, law enforcement turns a blind eye to it or worse. There are lots of places where the roosters are raised in lots easily seen from the public roads here. The roosters have to be kept tied up or they will fight all the time. There are special breeds of chickens bred for fighting.

[HeiressofBickworth]

8. Does that mean I'm not really

the Heiress of Bickworth?

[Javaman]

10. So, being King of Idaho, does that get you free potatoes?

sorry couldn't resist.

[Coventina]

12. Does that mean you have your own private Idaho?

Sorry, couldn't resist the B-52's reference.....

(I hate the fake royalty stuff as well).

[Sunlei]

11. Violence of animal fighting needs to be a felony crime in all states.