A former Chino slaughterhouse worker pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges related to last year’s videotaped mistreatment of cattle, court officials said this morning.

The initial court appearance for Daniel Ugarte Navarro, 49, was originally scheduled for Monday, but court officials did not say why his arraignment was unexpectedly switched to Thursday.

Ugarte was identified as the former pen manager in the undercover videotaping of cattle abuse at the Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. He is charged with eight misdemeanor and felony counts related to animal abuse.

Ugarte returns to San Bernardino County Superior Court in Chino on April 17.

The other slaughterhouse worker pictured in the videotape, Rafael Sanchez Herrera, is expected to accept a plea agreement in the same courtroom this morning.

—John F. Berry
jberry@pe.com

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