The Senate Committee on Corrections, Criminal, and Civil Matters voted to approve a bill yesterday that would raise the penalty for attending an animal fighting contest from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class D felony. Democrat State Senator Jim Arnold, of LaPorte, authorized the piece of legislation, which aims to curtail animal fighting contests by imposing greater penalties on spectators.
Senate Bill 11 would give spectators the same punishment that currently exists for promoters and sponsors.
Under the penalty, those who attend an animal fighting contest would be subject to a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment for three months to six years.
It will now go to the full Senate for consideration.
