Earlier today, Cesar Morales-Iniguez pled no contest to three counts of criminal animal cruelty. His conviction stems from an undercover investigation by Mercy For Animals at Winchester Dairy near Roswell, New Mexico. MFA documented Morales-Iniguez stabbing cows with a screwdriver and a key, pummeling animals with his fists, and viciously whipping them with a thick rubber hose. The Chaves County District Court gave him concurrent sentences of 364 days imprisonment, suspended pending his successful completion of probation. He was also ordered to pay fines and court fees totaling $165.





MFA’s Winchester Dairy investigation exposed multiple dairy workers maliciously beating cows, dragging them with tractors, and shocking them in the genitals with electric prods. Morales-Iniguez is the second worker from this facility to be convicted. Jose Luis Zuniga-Lira pled no contest to two counts of animal cruelty in December 2015. The cases of two other individuals charged with animal cruelty are still pending.





MFA praises the New Mexico Livestock Board and the Chaves County District Attorney’s Office for pursuing justice for these abused and exploited animals.





Watch the footage that led to the conviction here:









At the time of MFA’s investigation, Winchester Dairy sold milk to Leprino Foods, the world’s largest mozzarella cheese maker and a supplier to nearly all major pizza chains, including Pizza Hut, Domino’s, and Papa John’s. After the investigation, Leprino Foods terminated its contract with Winchester Dairy, and following discussions with MFA, announced one of the most comprehensive animal welfare policies ever adopted by a major U.S. dairy company.





Of course, the best way to protect cows and all farmed animals is to find compassionate alternatives to meat, eggs, and dairy. Visit ChooseVeg.com to learn more.