Two Pennsylvanians have pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges stemming from an undercover investigation of turkey catchers.
Juan Carlos Turi Baeza and Jose Enrique Turi Baeza were both sentenced to 12 months of supervised probation and may not have a job that involves caring for animals during that time, according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
The two men were among 11 people Pennsylvania State Police charged in November with kicking, stomping and beating turkeys while working as bird catchers for Plainville Farms. The abuse allegedly happened in Chester, Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton, Perry and Union counties.
A PETA employee witnessed the actions of the turkey catchers, police said.
The case involved 141 total counts of animal cruelty, the largest for any large-scale farm investigation in U.S. history, according to PETA.
Plainville, based in New Oxford, Pennsylvania, previously said it would respond to the allegations against workers by bringing in third-party auditors for unannounced inspections, increasing employee training, and distributing body cameras for workers who deal with live birds.
