![\"James](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.animals24-7.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Picsart_26-09-30_09-50-23-266-e1790787070630.jpg?ssl=1\")
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<\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n IRONTON,\u00a0 Ohio\u2013\u2013<\/strong>Why is alleged cockfighter James \u201cBubba\u201d Newcomb,\u00a0 of Waterloo,\u00a0 Ohio,\u00a0 not back in the Ohio state penitentiary,\u00a0 after Lawrence County probation officers and sheriff\u2019s deputies caught him on August 27,\u00a0 2026 in flagrant violation of his terms of early release?<\/p>\n Newcomb,\u00a0 59, \u00a0was on November 5,\u00a0 2021 convicted following a two-day jury trial,\u00a0 on one count of felonious assault for using his pickup truck to ram Showing Animals Respect & Kindness [SHARK]\u00a0 driver Adam Fahnestock\u2019s car,\u00a0 running it off the road into a deep ditch,\u00a0 after which the car was declared a total loss;\u00a0 one count of felony theft for causing the loss or destruction of a SHARK drone,\u00a0 the drone controller,\u00a0 and miscellaneous camera equipment;\u00a0 and one count of misdemeanor assault for beating SHARK founder Steve Hindi,\u00a0 inflicting a broken rib and head injuries requiring six surgical staples.<\/p>\n <\/a> James Newcomb.<\/strong><\/em> The assault,\u00a0 by Newcomb and fellow alleged cockfighter Shannon Clark,\u00a0 41,\u00a0 who was also convicted,\u00a0 came on January 3,\u00a0 2021,\u00a0 moments after Hindi and Fahnestock launched a drone to videotape the crowd at what Hindi told\u00a0ANIMALS 24-7<\/strong>\u00a0was by far the biggest cockfight he had investigated to that point.<\/p>\n Originally sentenced to serve from four to six years in prison,\u00a0 with five years on probation to follow,\u00a0 and fined $5,000, \u00a0Newcomb won early release for good behavior while in custody.<\/p>\n Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas Judge Andrew Ballard made explicitly clear in his verbal release order that Newcomb,\u00a0 allegedly involved in cockfighting for at least a decade before the assault on Hindi and Fahnestock, \u00a0was to have nothing whatever to do with cockfighting,\u00a0 people involved in cockfighting,\u00a0 and any other form of criminal activity during five years on probation.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (See Alleged cockfighter Newcomb who assaulted Steve Hindi released from prison<\/a>.)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a> Sentencing hearing;<\/strong><\/em> A Lawrence County Sheriff\u2019s Department incident report from August 27,\u00a0 2026,\u00a0 however,\u00a0 details potential charges against Newcomb including \u201cWeapon Law Violations Additional Offense;\u00a0 Drug\/Narcotic Violations Additional Offense;\u00a0 Animal Cruelty;\u00a0 Having Weapons While Under Disability;\u00a0 \u00a0lllegal Manufacture of Drugs or Cultivation of Marijuana;\u00a0 and Additional Statute: Animal Fights.\u201d<\/p>\n Narrated sheriff\u2019s deputy Matthew Chinn,\u00a0 \u201cOn Tuesday August 25th 2026 I received a phone call from Detective Brad Layman in reference to report of alleged cockfighting located at 366 Township Road 267. \u00a0Detective Layman advised that this was reported to him over the phone. That the individual that lives at this residence is James Newcomb. \u00a0That he had been accused of doing this in the past and that he is currently still hosting cockfighting.\u201d<\/p>\n Deputy Chinn verified that Newcomb is on probation.<\/p>\n <\/a> James \u201cBub\u201d Newcomb sent to prison in 2021.<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n Two days later,\u00a0 on the afternoon of August 27, \u00a02026,\u00a0 Deputy Chinn,\u00a0 detective Layman,\u00a0 officer Blayne Cornwell, \u00a0investigator Joe Akers,\u00a0 and probation officer Alex Craft visited the Newcomb residence.\u00a0 Deputy Chinn and Officer Cornwell in their written reports mentioned observing a gun cabinet \u201cthat was locked, \u00a0along with two shotguns beside it,\u201d\u00a0 Deputy Chinn wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cDetective Layman was able to speak to Rebecca Newcomb,\u00a0 James\u2019 wife,\u00a0 over the phone,\u201d\u00a0 Deputy Chinn said,\u00a0 \u201cand she advised that the guns were hers and that they should be in the gun cabinet locked.\u201d<\/p>\n Added Deputy Cornwell in his report,\u00a0 \u201cThere were approximately 3-4 firearms in the gun cabinet and there were two shotguns outside the cabinet leaning up against it. \u00a0There were also two baby chicks in a cage at the foot of the gun cabinet.<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n \u201cI turned my attention to the dresser on the right side of the room,\u201d\u00a0 Officer Cornwell detailed.\u00a0 \u201cI went through the drawers and there was significant amount of marijuana in a see-through plastic bag with a scale with marijuana residue all over it.<\/p>\n \u201cI then contacted Chief [adult probation officer] Bowen to see if he wanted us to place Mr. Newcomb in custody for a probation violation due to the weapons and drugs. Mr. Newcomb was detained by Deputy Chinn until the investigation of the home was concluded.<\/p>\n \u201cChief Bowen relayed that we needed to document the drugs and firearms and let the Sheriff\u2019s Office conduct more of their investigation and release Mr. Newcomb from custody.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n Inside another building on the premises,\u201d\u00a0 a barn entered with James Newcomb\u2019s permission,\u00a0 Deputy Chinn wrote,\u00a0 \u201cI observed what appeared to be a newly built fighting ring in the middle of the building with stadium-like seating around it. \u00a0I then observed feathers inside of the fighting ring along with marked lines on the floor. \u00a0I observed what appeared to the dried speckled blood on the dirt floor of the fighting ring,\u00a0 along with what appeared to be new signage hanging from the walls indicating cockfighting was taking place here.<\/p>\n Agreed Officer Cornwell,\u00a0 \u201cOnce we entered the barn I noticed there were signs stating, \u2018No Alcohol in the Barn.\u2019 \u00a0There was stadium seating and what appeared to be a wooden ring that resembled a fighting cage.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were multiple chicken feathers and what appeared to be dried blood. \u00a0We conducted a search of the barn and there were multiple doors that appeared to be used for keeping roosters. \u00a0There were painted signs with different states which had roosters painted on them as well.<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n \u201cI stepped out of the backside of the barn and discovered at least 10 or more tree-sized marijuana plants,\u201d\u00a0 Officer Cornwell wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cOfficer Cornwell then yelled at me to come out back of the building,\u201d\u00a0 Deputy Chinn picked up.\u00a0 \u201cWhen I walked through the doorway I observed at or near 18 to 20 marijuana plants growing. \u00a0When I looked at the plants it appeared that they were budding and ready for harvest. Some of the plants were at or near five feet tall and around three feet wide.<\/p>\n \u201cJames Newcomb was not arrested at the scene,\u201d\u00a0 Deputy Chinn said,\u00a0 but \u201cwas advised by Officer Cornwell to report to the Lawrence County Probation department\u201d the following day,\u00a0 August 28,\u00a0 2026.<\/p>\n Concluded Officer Cornwell,\u00a0 \u201cDeputy Chinn, \u00a0Officer Craft, \u00a0and myself conducted a walk of the yard behind the residence.\u00a0 There were multiple roosters tied up and in cages, \u00a0along with multiple chickens. \u00a0We concluded our search at that time and returned to our vehicles and left the area.\u201d<\/p>\nDope,\u00a0 guns,\u00a0 evidence of cockfighting;\u00a0 why isn\u2019t James Newcomb back behind bars now?<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n
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(SHARK screenshot from video)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\nAttacked after SHARK drone launch<\/h2>\n
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James \u201cBubba\u201d Newcomb at far left.<\/strong><\/em>
(Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\nSix prosecutable offenses<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nShotguns<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nMarijuana<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nCockpit<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\u201cTree-sized marijuana plants\u201d<\/h2>\n