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CORONA, CA — A Southern California man is expected to plead guilty Monday in downtown Los Angeles to a federal charge for hosting illegal cockfights in which owners paid $1,000 to register roosters expected to fight to the death while spectators gambled on the outcome.

Isidro Chaparro Sanchez, 59, of Corona has agreed to enter a plea to one count of conspiracy to sponsor and exhibit roosters in an animal fighting venture, a felony carrying a possible sentence of up to five years imprisonment, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

According to federal prosecutors, Sanchez conspired with four others to produce more than a dozen cockfighting events on Sundays at a home on Duffy Street in San Bernardino last year. The location included a cockfighting ring with seating and bars serving tacos and alcoholic drinks.

Prosecutors say attendees parked -- at the cost of $20 -- at a different location nearly 1 mile away from the event location. They were then shuttled to the cockfighting location, where they paid $40 to enter the arena where the fights took place. Attendees could also place bets on the cockfights and participate in a raffle.

A team registering four roosters would pay an entry fee of $1,000. One of the co-defendants would collect the money, register the team's roosters for battle, and record the weights of the roosters, court papers show.

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Attendees, including those who had registered their roosters, would place bets with bookmakers who collected the cash, Sanchez's plea agreement filed in Los Angeles federal court says.

The blood sport on Duffy Street ended on Aug. 4, 2024, shortly after the arrival of almost 60 patrons, some carrying roosters. Before the first bout, special agents with the FBI armed with a search warrant raided the place.

Items seized included roughly $9,000 in cash, 50 to 100 sharp instruments or "gaffs" -- curved metal spurs or blades that are attached to a rooster's leg prior to a fight -- and various types of steroids. In addition, about 200 birds, of which more than 150 were deemed to be fighting roosters by a local animal control agency, were recovered, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The four co-defendants currently face trial in June.

Cockfighting is a contest in which a person attaches a knife, gaff or other sharp instrument to the leg of a "gamecock" or rooster and then places the bird a few inches away from a similarly armed rooster. This results in a violent fight during which the roosters flap their wings and jump while stabbing each other with the weapons that are fastened to their legs. A cockfight ends when one rooster is dead or refuses to continue to fight. Usually, one or both roosters die after a fight, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

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CORONA, CALIF. - Coming into this season being defending Prep Baseball National Champions, the expectations are straightforward for Coach Andy Wise and Corona High School.

“Our expectations are to be the best and win everything,” said Andy Wise, head coach of the Corona Panthers since 2009.

Wise has taken the high school baseball world by storm with him and his staff’s ability to construct what is to be considered one of the best baseball programs in the entire nation.

Reaching the CIF finals in 2012 and 2017, as well as winning it all in 2024, the Panthers are a program built upon legacy, preparedness, and talent. Even after losing important pieces such as 4-year starting varsity catcher Josh Springer (Texas Rangers Draft Pick) and left-handed pitcher Ethan Schiefelbein (Detroit Tigers Draft Pick), the team may even be better this year than it was the year prior.

“This group is just trying to repeat what that team did. The talent is there, but that does not dictate winning,” said Wise.

The talent of this roster is evident on paper. With a lineup containing eight Division One committed players, the Panthers are a team forced to be reckoned with.

It starts with three highly touted seniors, MLB Draft prospects, and all two time Prep Baseball All-Americans: Seth Hernandez, Brady Ebel, and Billy Carlson.

Seth Hernandez, a RHP/OF committed to play at Vanderbilt, is the number one ranked pitcher and number two ranked player in the class of 2025. The 6’ 3’’ dual threat can top 100 MPH on the mound, with an exit velocity off the bat reaching upwards of 107.1 MPH. Hernadez serves as the team’s ace as well as a pivotal bat in the lineup.

Hernandez pitching at the 2024 Prep Baseball California Spring Invitational

Brady Ebel, a SS committed to play at LSU is the number two-ranked infielder and the number four ranked player in the class of 2025. The left-handed, five-tool prospect has a career OBP of .368 for the Panthers as well as playing exceptional defense at both 3B and SS.

Brady Ebel at the 2024 Prep Baseball All-American Game in Miami, FL.

Billy Carlson, a SS/RHP committed to play at the University of Tennessee, is the fifth-ranked shortstop and the seventh-ranked player in the class of 2025. A former Prep Baseball Future Games participant, Carlson hit to the tune of a .367 average in his junior season for Corona, as well as clubbing four home runs in the process. Additionally, Carlson serves as a vital asset in Corona’s bullpen, topping 91.9 MPH with his fastball.

Billy Carlson at the 2024 Prep Baseball All-American Game in Miami FL. where he hit an opposite-field HR.

As for coaching such highly touted prospects, Coach Wise finds it to be pretty easy due to how they take care of their business.

“Those guys know one way to play the game both mentally and physically and they just do it," said Wise. "They're great teammates, great competitors, but most importantly they are great people.”

In addition to Carlson, Ebel, and Hernadez, the Corona lineup and rotation is bolstered by the likes of other division one commits such as ‘25 RHP/OF Jason Gerfers (Arizona State) and ‘25 OF Joshua Sur (Vanguard).

Leadoff hitter ‘26 OF Anthony Murphy is committed to play at Louisiana State University as well.

Brady’s younger brother, INF Trey Ebel, is committed to play at Texas A&M in the fall of 2026.

‘25 RHP/INF Ethin Bingamin is committed to Auburn University and will join Ebel, Hernadez, and Carlson in the ever-so-competitive SEC.

“Our lineup gives us confidence. We are just going to do what we do and our lineup is extremely difficult on pitchers," said Wise. "It’s all about grinding out good-at bats and every guy from top to bottom is a threat.”

The pitching staff is just as equally talented as the bats that Corona puts forth. With a strong four-man rotation, headlined by Hernadez and Bingamin, and a deep reliever pool highlighted by Carlson and Gerfers, Corona’s well-rounded roster provides a tough test for any team that faces the Panthers.

“We probably have the best pitching staff and we probably have the best defense going,” said Wise.

As for strength of schedule, Wise and his staff have always prioritized a schedule that provides a challenge.

The Panthers face competitive schools such as Mater Dei, Gahr, and Summit High School this season to help them prepare for what they expect to be a deep playoff run.

“Even when we were not highly touted and ranked, the philosophy of mine and this program is to be big game hunters and beef up our schedule," said Wise. "We want the best game we can get so we can take something from each good program we play and add it to our own mix.”

The culture that Wise has fostered at Corona has been a long time in the making. Wise, a former player at Long Beach State and Santa Ana College, has absorbed the knowledge of what it takes to be an excellent coach from the likes of Dave Snow and Ken Ravizza.

“I am really just trying to give my spin with my personality from the coaches that I have played for and worked with," said Wise. "Corona Baseball is a little bit of Santa Ana College, a little bit of Long Beach State, and I couldn't be more honored to represent those programs and those coaches. Just trying to do the same as they did for me.”

As for program legacy, Panther alumni is headlined by the likes of Joe Kelly and Tristian Beck.

Joe Kelly, a two-time world series champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers, went on to play for UC Riverside and was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the third round of the 2009 MLB June Amateur Draft.

Tristan Beck, a right-handed pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, attended Stanford University after his time at Corona, and was originally drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the fourth round of the 2018 MLB June Amateur Draft.

“It’s a great brotherhood and having alumni come back and share their stories is amazing," said Wise. "All the way from Joe Kelly to Tristian Beck, you can really see how the Corona baseball community and culture has grown and it's fun to watch to see players who have represented our program enter the real world prepared.

Under Coach Wise, a plethora of both offensive, defensive, and pitching talent, the Corona Panthers hope to run it back and prove why they are considered to be one of, if not the best program in the nation. Through the mentality of hard work, preparation, and playing the game the right way, the Corona Panthers have what it takes to be repeat as Prep Baseball National champions.

“We know everyone wants to kick our ass so we’re always getting a team’s best and we wouldn’t want it any other way,” said Wise.

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