Westland/Hallmark slaughterhouse worker sentenced to 270 days in jail

A slaughterhouse supervisor whose taped abuse of "downer" cows led to the largest beef recall in U.S. history was sentenced to 270 days in jail this morning in Chino Superior Court.

Daniel Ugarte Navarro, 49, was a pen foreman at the Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. slaughterhouse in Chino.

An undercover investigator for the U.S. Humane Society videotaped Navarro in October and November abusing sick cows by forcibly moving them with a forklift, striking cows in the face and eyes with a paddle, and using an electric cattle prod to shock cows in the face and eyes.

Navarro's probation report also states that Navarro used a high-pressure water hose to shoot water into a downed cow's mouth, and said, "Get up or die."

The Pomona resident will serve his jail time on weekends starting Oct. 17, and may serve his time on "work release" rather than in jail.

Judge Gerard Brown, who sentenced Navarro, also said he is eligible to serve his sentence through electronic monitoring at his home, though that decision will be made by sheriff's department officials.

Navarro agreed to plead guilty in June to two felony charges of animal abuse and two misdemeanor charges of moving "downer" cows.

See this post from yesterday for more information on Navarro's case.