Horrifying undercover video footage of animal abuse secretly recorded by Mercy For Animals at Ontario Livestock Sales — the largest livestock auction in southern California — has led to even more criminal convictions of the auction’s employees. On Friday, workers Jose Orozco, Manuel Orozco, Carlos Rodriguez-Contreras, and Alejandro Herrera were convicted by San Bernardino County Superior Court judge Colin Bilash of charges that they violated California’s criminal animal cruelty laws by kicking, throwing, and beating animals and leaving sick and injured animals to suffer and die.





The workers were ordered to pay fines totaling $235 each, to pay $250 each to the Inland Valley Humane Society, and were sentenced to 2 years probation. Late last year, auction owner Horacio Santorsola was also convicted of criminal cruelty to animals for selling, holding, and transporting “downer” animals who were too sick or injured to stand up or walk, and two other auction workers were convicted of criminal animal cruelty. Mercy For Animals praises the San Bernardino District Attorney’s Office for pursuing justice in this important case.







Following the release of this investigation in 2012, Ontario mayor Paul Leon vowed to take swift action against the livestock auction, calling the abuse documented by Mercy For Animals “shocking and disturbing.” Ontario City Council member Jim Bowen also condemned the livestock auction and asked the City Council to take action. Mercy For Animals is now calling upon the mayor and City Council to begin proceedings to close down this facility based on the numerous violations of California’s animal cruelty laws.







Watch the video footage that led to these convictions here:









