Judge Grants Diversion in Goat Rescue Case, Over Prosecution’s Objection
For immediate release
Contact:
Cassie King, Direct Action Everywhere, (510) 507-8075, cassie@directactioneverywhere.com
Lauren Gazzola, Animal Activist Legal Defense Project, press@aaldp.com
Judge Grants Diversion in Goat Rescue Case, Over Prosecution’s Objection
The decision comes after judge reviewed animal cruelty evidence documented at Vera Goat Dairy prior to rescue
Key Video from the Investigation
(Credit: Direct Action Everywhere)
September 23, 2026, Hanford, CA – Today, a Kings County judge granted judicial diversion for four animal rights activists who rescued two sick baby goats from Vera Goat Dairy, a “Certified Humane,” goat farm in Stratford, which supplies Meyenberg goat milk to Whole Foods. He did so over the objection of the prosecution, which had charged the rescuers with multiple felonies. At a hearing last month, Judge Jim Trevino reduced all of the felony charges to misdemeanors after reviewing a defense filing detailing evidence of significant animal cruelty at the dairy, calling the filing persuasive. After today’s judicial diversion, all charges will be dismissed following completion of 40 hours of community service and 5 months probation.
“Too often, labels like ‘Certified Humane’ and pictures of happy animals get slapped on packaging to hide the ugly reality of animal agriculture. As our filing laid out, even on supposedly humane farms, unlawful cruelty and widespread suffering are rampant,” said Darius Fullmer, Assistant Staff Attorney at the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project. “Here, the evidence of cruelty was significant enough that a judge deemed it appropriate that a case that began with multiple felonies be resolved with diversion.”
Diversion is an alternative to prosecution, in which a defendant is required to meet certain conditions in exchange for dismissal of the charges after those conditions are met. Each defendant was initially charged with felony grand theft, felony conspiracy and misdemeanor trespass, and faced a maximum sentence of 6 and a half years in prison. Body camera footage obtained through discovery showed the lead arresting officer instructing another officer to “Make sure it’s a fucking felony.” Later, defense attorneys discovered that District Attorney Sarah Hacker previously represented the dairy property owners in a class action lawsuit brought by workers at the dairy. Before the case was diverted, Judge Trevino had granted the defense’s motion to compel DA Hacker to provide evidence of the extent of her relationship with the dairy.
“I’m grateful the judge took the time to look at the animal cruelty evidence,” said defendant Sally Zito. “Cruelty is the real crime here, not saving lives, and when confronted with the evidence, I think the judge agreed. Unfortunately, the Kings County District Attorney refuses to take any enforcement action and has repeatedly dismissed video evidence of animal cruelty at county factory farms. Because of her inaction, baby goats will continue dying from starvation and neglect.”
The four defendants, Joseph Allman, Carla Cabral, Tajinder Uppal and Sally Zito, are animal cruelty investigators with Direct Action Everywhere (DxE). Prior to the rescue of the two goats, DxE had conducted a months-long investigation into Vera Goat Dairy, which exposed a large, open-air dead pile of mother and baby goats, a mother goat with severely inflamed udders, “marked emaciation,” and necropsy testing of deceased baby goats that found coccidia parasites and “bacterial bronchopneumonia, most likely caused by Escherichia coli,” according to a UC Davis lab report. The two rescued goats were both gaunt and suffering from respiratory infections. Caregivers nursed them back to health, named them Phoebe and Celia, and placed them at a sanctuary where they will live out their lives.
DxE’s legal team reported the group’s findings at Vera to county, state, and federal agencies and the Regional Water Quality Control Board, requesting that authorities take action, but no enforcement action was taken against the company. DxE activists assert that people have a legal right to rescue animals from unlawful abuse when the authorities fail to enforce the law. Renowned attorneys agree.
The defendants are represented by attorneys with the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project and Civil Liberties Defense Center, as well as local counsel.
Following the hearing, the defendants and their supporters are holding a protest outside the District Attorney's office, urging her to prosecute Vera Goat Dairy for animal cruelty.
The Animal Activist Legal Defense Project at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law works to empower and defend animal advocates through activist defense, affirmative litigation, and training law students to join and transform the field of Animal Law. Learn more at AALDP.com and follow us at @AALDP_DU on Twitter/X, Instagram, and @AALDP-DU on Bluesky.
Investigators with Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) enter farms, slaughterhouses, and other facilities to document abuses and rescue sick and injured animals. DxE’s investigatory work has been featured in The New York Times, WIRED, and Vox. DxE activists have been subjected to FBI raids and felony prosecutions for their investigative work. In 2022, DxE activists won the first-ever acquittal in an open rescue case. Visit DxE on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and at directactioneverywhere.com.
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