Kentucky State Police make arrests in chicken fighting operations

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky State Police has made multiple arrests in a years-long investigation into chicken fighting across eastern Kentucky.

According to a release, detective Zachary Bryson with KSP’s Drug Enforcement Special Investigations unit and a task force officer with the Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation with collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

This resulted in arrests related to alleged chicken fighting in the Blackberry community of Pike County, as well as the Whitesburg community of Letcher County.

In 2021, KSP says its DESI East unit received a tip about illegal chicken fighting in Blackberry.

According to authorities, between April 3, 2021 and November 6, 2021, detectives conducted surveillance using a confidential informant on the Blackberry Chicken Pit seven different times.

Despite the pit closing before a warrant could be executed, troopers say this investigation resulted in critical information into the operation and those that organized it.

In late 2021, Bryson was informed about another large chicken fight in the Whitesburg community.

Between February 5, 2022 and February 26, 2022, authorities say surveillance was conducted three times, resulting in the execution of a search warrant.

As a result of the investigations, the release states federal indictments were gained against seven individuals in connection with both locations, with plea agreements in December 2024.

The individuals arrested include the following, according to KSP:

Blackberry Investigation

• Timothy Sizemore was sentenced to 26 months of incarceration, two years supervised release and a $1,000 fine for running an animal fighting venture.
• Perry Hatfield was sentenced to eight months of home detention for running an animal fighting venture.

Whitesburg Investigation 

• Robert Dewayne Baker has pled guilty but awaits sentencing to conspiracy to commit animal fighting.
• Virgil Saylor has pled guilty but awaits sentencing for helping run the chicken fight.
• Tina Miller has pled guilty but awaits sentencing for helping run the chicken fight.
• Brandon Honeycutt has pled guilty and awaits sentencing for being a referee at the fights.
• Chris Prater has pled guilty but awaits sentencing for exhibiting and animal at an animal fight.

Included in the indictments was the owner and operator of the Blackberry Chicken Pit, authorities say, who pleaded guilty to his charges, dismantled the fighting arena and forfeited $85,395 as part of his plea agreement on Dec. 5.

Sentencing for others involved includes eight months of home detention for one individual and ongoing proceedings for others.