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Romanian princess and husband plead guilty in Oregon cockfighting case Romanian princess and husband plead guilty in Oregon cockfighting case
(about 1 hour later)
A Romanian princess has pleaded guilty to charges connected with an illegal cockfighting operation at her ranch in rural Oregon. A Romanian princess has pleaded guilty to running an illegal gambling business in connection with a cockfighting operation in Oregon.
Irina Walker, 61, is a great-great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria and the third daughter of the former Romanian King Michael I, who was forced to abdicate by the country’s communist government in 1947. Princess Irina, the third daughter of the last king of Romania, and her husband, former deputy sheriff John Wesley Walker, accepted a plea deal in which the US government dismissed charges of animal fighting and conspiracy to violate the animal welfare act.
Prosecutors said Ms Walker and her 68-year-old husband, John, held at least 10 cockfighting derbies in a barn at their ranch in Irrigon, Oregon, in 2012 and 2013. They were arrested last summer. On Wednesday, Mrs Walker pleaded guilty to a single count of operating an illegal gambling venture, telling US District Judge Michael Mosman that she had “provided food and beverages” for spectators at the events, for which knives, or “gaffs”, are fitted to the legs of two cocks, which then fight to the death. The practice is illegal under federal and state law. The Walkers will be sentenced on 22 October and the government plans to seek probation along with the forfeiture of $200,000 (£117,600).
The authorities said the couple charged punters $20 (£11.70) to attend the events and $1,000 to enter their cock in a bout. The crowds reportedly numbered 100 or more and the betting pool reached as much as $18,000. According to USA Today, 10 per cent went to the referees, while the rest was won by the person whose cock emerged triumphant from the most fights. The couple were arrested after authorities said they staged at least 10 cockfighting matches in a barn at their ranch in Multnomah County. Prosecutors said they charged spectators $20 (£11.70) to enter and the crowd generally exceeded 100 people.
Charges against another woman, hired to prepare tacos and burritos at the events, were dropped. The couple also made money from the sale of alcohol.
Born and raised in Switzerland, Irina moved to the US in 1983 with her first husband, whom she later divorced before marrying Mr Walker, a former sheriff’s deputy. Mr Walker established the cockfighting operation with a veteran referee, Mario Perez, whose was among more than a dozen people indicted in the case. Princess Irena was born in Lausanne, Switzerland, the third daughter of Michael I - the last king of Romania who was forced to abdicate in in 1947 after the Communist Party took control of the country.
Mr and Mrs Walker are due to be sentenced in October. The Government has recommended three-year probationary sentences for the couple, as well as the forfeiture of $200,000. She is a great-great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria and, as her father’s abdication was considered “forced and illegal”, her family still use their royal titles, despite having no political power.
According to a statement on the royal family's website, King Michael expressed “deep sadness” about his daughter’s situation.
The statement said, “His Majesty and the royal family appreciates the efforts of all involved” and hopes that the American justice system and Oregon courts will act as quickly and fairly as possible. 
There was no mention of the former king’s son-in-law.
Additional reporting by Press Association