Owner of Miami-Dade County slaughterhouse already on probation

Judge sets bond for Raul Fernandez at $175,000

MIAMI – A man accused of operating an illegal slaughterhouse was already on probation for drug trafficking when he was arrested Wednesday.

Raul Fernandez, also known as "Freaky," faces seven counts of animal cruelty, all third-degree felonies.

In court Thursday morning, Judge Stacy Glick set his bond at $25,000 on each charge, amounting to $175,000. She also revealed that Fernandez was on probation from crimes in 2011 and 2013.

Undercover surveillance video provided by Animal Recovery Mission shows the illegal handling and slaughtering of pigs on his farm.

"The pigs were forcibly held down and hammered multiple times, stabbed and gutted alive while thrashing and screaming, showing obvious signs of life," Glick said.

Glick also ruled that Fernandez could not return to the property on Northwest 137th Avenue.

"You're not to go back to that property," she told Fernandez.

He was expected to appear before another judge on the probation violation charge Friday morning.


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Jacey Birch anchors Local 10 News Mornings each weekday from 4:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. She is also proud to be the animal advocate for Local 10's investigative team.