Former Butterball worker pleads guilty to animal cruelty
A Raeford man pleaded guilty Thursday to charges of animal cruelty that stemmed from a December 2011 raid at a Hoke County Butterball turkey farm.
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Deputies raided the Shannon farm after animal-rights group Mercy for Animals provided a hidden-camera video that showed farm workers beating and stomping on turkeys.
Ronnie Jacobs, 58, of 4475 Rockfish Road, is the last of five workers charged in the case to be convicted. All five also lost their jobs at the farm.
Dr. Sarah Mason, director of animal health programs in the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Poultry Division, also pleaded guilty to her role in informing a veterinarian for Butterball that Hoke County prosecutors were reviewing the undercover video. She was placed on probation for a year.
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