In the aftermath of the Chino slaughterhouse scandal and beef recall, one former employee has pleaded guilty to criminal charges and faces jail time and likely deportation.

Charges were brought against Rafael Sanchez Herrera for his usage of a forklift to move cows too sick to stand in order to bring them to slaughter, which is a federal violation. His plea of guilty addresses his role in the abuse of the cows, as well as other non-related issues, and have earned him 180 days in county jail. According to the Daily Bulletin, his lawyer "said Herrera took the deal because public outrage over the beef recall would have made the case risky to take to trial."

Herrera is one of the two men caught on video taken by a Humane Society investigator while undercover at the now infamous Westland/Hallmark Meat Company in Chino last fall.

Furthermore, "his plea agreement Friday does not require that he cooperate in any investigation into the slaughterhouse or its management," however, "it does require him to pay a $110 fine and spend two years on probation. The Mexican national, who has two American-born children, will likely be deported after serving his jail time." Once released from jail he is expected to go directly to his deportation hearings.

Photo by She's Not Ther via Flickr