By STAN MADDUX

Indiana Correspondent

KENTLAND, Ind. — Newton County Prosecutor Jeff Drinski said his office is investigating substantiated claims workers at Fair Oaks were enticed into the alleged animal abuse by Animal Recovery Mission.

On June 4 ARM released a video of calves getting body slammed and hit with objects like steel rods and branding irons during what ARM claimed was a several month long undercover investigation on its part.

The video also showed calves being kicked and slung into huts and trucks along with carcasses of dead calves being piled up.

“A third party witness has come forward to corroborate the allegations made by a suspect that the ARM employee encouraged or coerced the behavior depicted in the video that have been released publicly. Detectives continue to investigate these claims through additional interviews and written discovery,” Drinski said.

Richard Couto, founder of the Miami, Florida based animal rights group, called the prosecutor’s disclosure an “unexpected and absurd twist of events.”

He also questioned the timing and motive of the prosecutor’s disclosure, alleging conflict of interest from Drinski being in the cattle business himself and possibly having business ties with Fair Oaks Farms.

On Twitter, Drinski in his biography lists himself as a partner in a grass-fed beef operation called Meadow Oaks Angus. The operation in Morocco is less than 20 miles from Fair Oaks Farms.

“This is why ARM is currently looking into the appropriate channels to have the case reassigned to an additional county prosecutor’s office outside the greater Newton and Jasper county regions,” Couto said.

Couto said a request will also be made for Indiana State Police to take over the investigation with ARM’s “full cooperation.”

“As it is highly out of the ordinary for a prosecutor this early into the process of discovery to release a statement to the media and the greater public and with his strong ties to the animal agriculture, it is apparent that this prosecutor is attempting to divert public attention away from Fair Oaks Farms and Mike McCloskey to try to take legitimacy from ARM’s investigation,” Couto said.

McCloskey, a former cow veterinarian, is founder of the operation which added a 99 room Fairfield Inn by Marriott this year.

Fair Oaks Farms is also affiliated with fairlife milk, which some stores pulled in response to the images of abuse.

In a June 5 video, McCloskey accepted responsibility and vowed corrective measures like video cameras to prevent what totally goes against the “core values” of the organization.

He also said the three workers charged were fired when co-workers reported abuse three months prior to him learning about the undercover investigation.

He said a fourth worker was let go June 4.

The arrested workers, Santiago Ruvalcalba Contreros, 31, Edgar Gardozo Vazquez, 36, and Miguel Angel Navarro Serrano, 38, are charged with beating of a vertebrate animal, a Class A misdemeanor.

Drinski offered this explanation on why he came out with evidence of workers possibly being enticed into abusing the animals.

“This case has produced a huge volume of media requests as well as a number of public comments that we are not doing enough or doing so fast enough. I try to answer each media request I receive including follow ups in hopes that the public keeps faith that the investigation is moving forward,” he said.