CHINO, Calif. (AP) -- A judge has refused to dismiss charges against a former southern California slaughterhouse worker caught on video abusing sick cows.
Superior Court Judge Gerard Brown rejected arguments Thursday that Daniel Ugarte Navarro bore no liability for the mistreatment at the Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. plant in Chino.
Navarro's lawyer says the eight charges should be dropped because the slaughterhouse --not Navarro -- had custody over the animals.
The video appears to show Navarro and other workers jabbing a cow in the eye, dragging animals with forklifts and squirting water at high pressure into the cattle's noses and mouths.
Navarro has pleaded not guilty to animal abuse charges.