Co-owner of Vt. slaughterhouse turns self in on animal cruelty charge; released on $10K bail

Vt. slaughterhouse co-owner turns himself in

NORTH HERO, Vt. — The co-owner of a now-closed Vermont slaughterhouse has turned himself in on an animal cruelty charge.

The attorney general’s office says 51-year-old Frank Perretta of Grand Isle was released on $10,000 bail Monday after surrendering.

Bushway Packing Inc., was shut down Oct. 30 amid allegations stemming from a Humane Society of the United States undercover video showing calves being kicked and poked with electric prods.

A former worker at the slaughterhouse, 37-year-old Christopher Gaudette, of Grand Isle, has pleaded not guilty to animal cruelty charges.

Perretta was arrested last week in New York on fugitive from justice charges. A message left for his lawyer was not immediately returned.