Vermont Attorney General William H Sorrell announced today that Christopher Gaudette, age 37, and Frank Perretta, age 51, both of Grand Isle, Vermont, have been charged with animal cruelty in connection with an investigation into the operation of Bushway Packing, Inc. Gaudette has been charged with two counts of cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor, and one count of aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony. Perretta has been charged with one count of cruelty to animals. Neither Gaudette nor Perretta could be located by law enforcement officers, and therefore arrest warrants have been issued for both individuals.
According to papers filed in court, the charges stem from the alleged excessive shocking of calves being processed at the Bushway Packing plant. Following a complaint by the Humane Society of the United States, which had employed an undercover operative to film conditions at the plant, the US Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, and Food Safety Inspection Service, conducted an investigation, which resulted in the filing of criminal charges.
The misdemeanor charges each carry a possible sentence of not more than one year imprisonment and not more than $2,000 in fines, and the felony charge carries a possible sentence of not more than three years imprisonment and not more than $5,000 in fines.
The Bushway Packing plant is no longer in operation.
Source: Vermont AG. 6.4.2010
Vermont AG issues arrest warrants in Bushway cruelty to animals case
Submitted by tim
on