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SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP) — Zoe Rosenberg, a California activist for animal rights, has been sentenced to 90 days in jail after being found guilty of felony conspiracy, trespassing, and other related charges. Rosenberg was convicted for taking four chickens from a major Perdue Farms poultry facility.
Rosenberg, 23, admitted to removing the birds from Petaluma Poultry but contended her actions were lawful, as she was rescuing them from inhumane conditions. After a seven-week trial in Sonoma County—a region rooted in agriculture—a jury convicted her in October.
On Wednesday, Rosenberg received her sentence and is required to report to Sonoma County Jail by December 10. While she faces a 90-day sentence, 60 days of it might be served through alternatives like house arrest, according to the district attorney’s office. Additionally, she will be on probation for two years and must avoid all Perdue facilities in the area.
Rosenberg, affiliated with Berkeley’s Direct Action Everywhere (DxE), remains unapologetic about her actions.
“I will not apologize for taking sick, neglected animals to get medical care,” Rosenberg stated after her conviction.
The group named the birds — Poppy, Ivy, Aster, and Azalea — and placed them in an animal sanctuary.
Petaluma Poultry has said that DxE is an extremist group that is intent on destroying the animal agriculture industry. The company maintained that the animals were not mistreated.
Rosenberg testified she disguised herself as a Petaluma Poultry worker using a fake badge and earpiece to take the birds, and then posted a video of her actions on social media.
Petaluma Poultry is a subsidiary of Perdue Farms — one of the United States’ largest poultry providers for major grocery chains.
The co-founder of DxE was convicted two years ago for his role in factory farm protests in Petaluma.