A 36-year-old Newport News man received no active jail time but was fined $2,500 last week for animal fighting and animal cruelty charges in Gloucester Circuit Court last week.

Thinh Chi Chang pleaded guilty to four felony counts of animal fighting, four misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals and two misdemeanors counts of inadequate animal care on April 10. 

The animal fighting and cruelty charges were related to Chang’s cockfighting operation in Gloucester, while the inadequate care charges were brought in connection with two dogs he kept on the property.

Gloucester Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey W. Shaw sentenced Chang on July 24 to six months in jail on each of the fighting and cruelty charges but suspended each six-month sentence. He received no sentence for the inadequate care charges and was fined $250 for each of the 10 offenses to which he pleaded guilty.

Gloucester Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Benjamin Shute said the cockfighting operation was investi...