Dope, guns, evidence of cockfighting; why isn’t James Newcomb back behind bars now?
IRONTON, Ohio––Why is alleged cockfighter James “Bubba” Newcomb, of Waterloo, Ohio, not back in the Ohio state penitentiary, after Lawrence County probation officers and sheriff’s deputies caught him on August 27, 2026 in flagrant violation of his terms of early release?
Newcomb, 59, was on November 5, 2021 convicted following a two-day jury trial, on one count of felonious assault for using his pickup truck to ram Showing Animals Respect & Kindness [SHARK] driver Adam Fahnestock’s car, running it off the road into a deep ditch, after which the car was declared a total loss; one count of felony theft for causing the loss or destruction of a SHARK drone, the drone controller, and miscellaneous camera equipment; and one count of misdemeanor assault for beating SHARK founder Steve Hindi, inflicting a broken rib and head injuries requiring six surgical staples.
(SHARK screenshot from video)
Attacked after SHARK drone launch
The assault, by Newcomb and fellow alleged cockfighter Shannon Clark, 41, who was also convicted, came on January 3, 2021, moments after Hindi and Fahnestock launched a drone to videotape the crowd at what Hindi told ANIMALS 24-7 was by far the biggest cockfight he had investigated to that point.
Originally sentenced to serve from four to six years in prison, with five years on probation to follow, and fined $5,000, Newcomb won early release for good behavior while in custody.
Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas Judge Andrew Ballard made explicitly clear in his verbal release order that Newcomb, allegedly involved in cockfighting for at least a decade before the assault on Hindi and Fahnestock, was to have nothing whatever to do with cockfighting, people involved in cockfighting, and any other form of criminal activity during five years on probation.
(See Alleged cockfighter Newcomb who assaulted Steve Hindi released from prison.)
James “Bubba” Newcomb at far left.
(Beth Clifton collage)
Six prosecutable offenses
A Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department incident report from August 27, 2026, however, details potential charges against Newcomb including “Weapon Law Violations Additional Offense; Drug/Narcotic Violations Additional Offense; Animal Cruelty; Having Weapons While Under Disability; lllegal Manufacture of Drugs or Cultivation of Marijuana; and Additional Statute: Animal Fights.”
Narrated sheriff’s deputy Matthew Chinn, “On 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. Detective Layman advised that this was reported to him over the phone. That the individual that lives at this residence is James Newcomb. That he had been accused of doing this in the past and that he is currently still hosting cockfighting.”
Deputy Chinn verified that Newcomb is on probation.
Shotguns
Two days later, on the afternoon of August 27, 2026, Deputy Chinn, detective Layman, officer Blayne Cornwell, investigator Joe Akers, and probation officer Alex Craft visited the Newcomb residence. Deputy Chinn and Officer Cornwell in their written reports mentioned observing a gun cabinet “that was locked, along with two shotguns beside it,” Deputy Chinn wrote.
“Detective Layman was able to speak to Rebecca Newcomb, James’ wife, over the phone,” Deputy Chinn said, “and she advised that the guns were hers and that they should be in the gun cabinet locked.”
Added Deputy Cornwell in his report, “There were approximately 3-4 firearms in the gun cabinet and there were two shotguns outside the cabinet leaning up against it. There were also two baby chicks in a cage at the foot of the gun cabinet.
Marijuana
“I turned my attention to the dresser on the right side of the room,” Officer Cornwell detailed. “I 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.
“I 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.
“Chief Bowen relayed that we needed to document the drugs and firearms and let the Sheriff’s Office conduct more of their investigation and release Mr. Newcomb from custody.”
Cockpit
Inside another building on the premises,” a barn entered with James Newcomb’s permission, Deputy Chinn wrote, “I observed what appeared to be a newly built fighting ring in the middle of the building with stadium-like seating around it. I then observed feathers inside of the fighting ring along with marked lines on the floor. I observed what appeared to the dried speckled blood on the dirt floor of the fighting ring, along with what appeared to be new signage hanging from the walls indicating cockfighting was taking place here.
Agreed Officer Cornwell, “Once we entered the barn I noticed there were signs stating, ‘No Alcohol in the Barn.’ There was stadium seating and what appeared to be a wooden ring that resembled a fighting cage.
“There were multiple chicken feathers and what appeared to be dried blood. We conducted a search of the barn and there were multiple doors that appeared to be used for keeping roosters. There were painted signs with different states which had roosters painted on them as well.
“Tree-sized marijuana plants”
“I stepped out of the backside of the barn and discovered at least 10 or more tree-sized marijuana plants,” Officer Cornwell wrote.
“Officer Cornwell then yelled at me to come out back of the building,” Deputy Chinn picked up. “When I walked through the doorway I observed at or near 18 to 20 marijuana plants growing. When 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.
“James Newcomb was not arrested at the scene,” Deputy Chinn said, but “was advised by Officer Cornwell to report to the Lawrence County Probation department” the following day, August 28, 2026.
Concluded Officer Cornwell, “Deputy Chinn, Officer Craft, and myself conducted a walk of the yard behind the residence. There were multiple roosters tied up and in cages, along with multiple chickens. We concluded our search at that time and returned to our vehicles and left the area.”
(Facebook photo)
Prior convictions
Both James Newcomb and his wife Beckie Newcomb had prior convictions related to marijuana trafficking.
Arrested on July 19, 2010, at the same address as the 2021 assault on Steve Hindi and Adam Fahnestock and the alleged probation violations, 366 Township Road 267, Waterloo, Ohio, both Newcombs on February 17, 2011 pleaded not guilty to trafficking in marijuana, a fourth degree felony in Ohio.
Beckie Newcomb reversed her plea to guilty on March 24, 2011, and was sentenced to a six-month suspended jail term plus three years on probation.
James Newcomb was convicted on April 6, 2011.
Beckie Newcomb served for several years as secretary of the Ohio Game Breeders Association, registered at the same address until July 2022.
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