Former slaughterhouse workers charged

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., Feb. 15 (UPI) -- A California prosecutor filed animal cruelty charges Friday against two former employees of Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture shut down the Chino, Calif., slaughterhouse last week after a video from the Humane Society of the United States showed slaughterhouse workers at the Southern California facility forcing disabled cows to their feet using sticks, electric prods and water hoses.

San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael Ramos said five felony counts of animal cruelty and three misdemeanor counts were filed against Daniel Ugarte Navarro, 49, of Pomona, Calif., and three misdemeanor counts against Luis Sanchez, 32, of Chino.

"It doesn't matter whether the mistreated animal is a beloved family pet or a cow at a slaughterhouse," Ramos said in statement. "Unnecessary cruelty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent allowed by law."

USDA issued a statement Friday in support of the charges. "It is regrettable that these animals were mistreated and I am encouraged and supportive of these actions by the San Bernardino District Attorney in response to this mistreatment," Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer said.