Eleven people hired to capture and crate turkeys for Plainville Farms have been charged with abusing the animals at seven locations in six Pennsylvania counties, authorities said.
Pennsylvania State Police said the workers “kicked, stomped and beat turkeys” at farms in Chester, Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton, Perry and Union counties. These were animals that were supposed to humanely crated and taken to Plainville Farms’ food processing plants, state police said.
State police said the 11 suspects were charged with six felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, 76 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, and 57 related summary offenses.
An investigation into the alleged abuse was launched in August 2021, after a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) employee reported abuse they’d witnessed to authorities, state police said.
The workers facing charges are:
- Bryce P. Washington, 26, of McSherrystown
- Miguel Turi Cantellano, 65, of McSherrystown
- Juan Turi Baeza, 37, of McSherrystown
- Jason K. Turner, 22, of Hanover
- Bryiant O. Perez-Paez, 40, of Hanover
- Francisco M. Lebron-Cruz, 39, of Thomasville
- Jose E. Turi Baeza, 29, of New Oxford
- Kevin L. Wagaman, 49, of Fayetteville
- Mitchell E. Buckley, 23, of Aspers
- Christopher S. McArdle, 37, of Gettysburg
- Joseph Nunez Rosario, 41, of York
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