After being caught on hidden camera kicking and throwing chickens and violently stomping them to death, Danny Miranda pled guilty yesterday to three counts of criminal animal cruelty in the Richmond County, North Carolina district court. The convictions stem from an MFA undercover investigation into Perdue Farms in North Carolina.





Miranda was initially charged with four counts of felony animal cruelty for his pattern of vicious and sadistic animal abuse. As part of a plea agreement, he was convicted of three counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty and sentenced to 45 days’ imprisonment, 12 months’ probation, and a prohibition on working with animals.





MFA praises the Richmond County Sheriff’s Department and District Attorney’s Office for taking swift and decisive action in pursuing justice for these abused and exploited animals.





Watch the footage that led to his conviction here:









At the time of the investigation, Miranda was employed at Deese Farm and Hideaway Farms in Rockingham, North Carolina. Both were contract chicken factory farms for Perdue—one of the largest poultry producers in the country.





MFA is urging Perdue to adopt meaningful animal welfare policies across its entire supply chain to end many of the worst forms of animal abuse and neglect. This includes ending selective breeding for rapid growth and shifting to slower-growing breeds of birds to prevent health problems related to accelerated growth; providing birds with more space, clean litter, access to natural light, and environmental enrichments; and replacing live-shackle slaughter methods with less cruel systems that eliminate the horrific suffering caused by shackling, shocking, and slitting the throats of conscious animals.





While these convictions send a clear message that animal abuse will not be tolerated, ultimately, the best way to protect chickens and other farmed animals from needless cruelty and suffering is to leave meat, eggs, and dairy off your plate. Visit ChooseVeg.com to get started!