Dairy workers get light sentences for torturing cows

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Two dairy farm workers received 20-day jail sentences Wednesday in the first cases prosecuted after undercover videos showed cows being beaten, burned and kept in horrific conditions at dairy farms in Okeechobee County.

Fernando Lopez Cruz and Naul Dorantes-Garcia worked at McArthur Dairy, where they were among the workers videotaped abusing cows, in an undercover operation conducted by Animal Recovery Mission, a Miami Beach animal rights group that specializes in infiltrating suspected animal abusers.

Videos taken at the Burnham, Davie, Larson and McArthur dairy farms showed cows being punched, kicked, stabbed with pipes and burned alive. They showed calves kept in miserable conditions in tiny cages, exposed to sun and rain. The videos led to a national outcry and prompted Publix Super Markets to suspend deliveries of milk from the farms.

The two men pleaded no contest to one count each of misdemeanor cruelty to animals. The jail time could be served on what's called a weekend work program, where they work off the time by showing up Saturday and Sunday.

Richard Couto, founder and lead investigator for Animal Rescue Mission, called the sentences light but said they set an important precedent.

“This being the first conviction in the history of the state of Florida, at a working dairy farm, I am pleased with the outcome, despite the light sentencing,” he said. “This country has a long way to go in sentencing its animals abusers.”

County Judge Jerald D. Bryant also sentenced them to 72 hours of community service to be performed at an animal rescue organization, one year's probation and the payment of $370 in court and prosecution costs.