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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 running an illegal gambling business in connection with a cockfighting operation in Oregon. | |
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. | |
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 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. | |
The couple also made money from the sale of alcohol. | |
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. | |
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 |