Correction: An earlier edition of this story incorrectly identified the nature of Sargeant's plea.
A viewer e-mailed us what she calls a disgusting picture of dead horses behind a business in south Bakersfield. She wanted to know why they were there. So we sent 17's Kiyoshi Tomono to investigate.
The picture shows a half dozen horses with their hooves in the air. The viewer who sent it to us says they were partially covered in plastic and were being dipped in formaldhyde.
We went to Sargeant's Wholesale Biological near District and Stine where owner Michael Sargeant told us he provides important scientific specimens to veterinary schools. Sargeant didn't want to be interviewed on camera but told 17 News the horses are shipped to him dead. He says they are often sick and headed to slaughter houses anyway.
Code compliance officers came out to investigate whether the business complies with city zoning laws. "From the limited information that I have, some of the concern is the handling of the animals that are there, which we have no enforcement authority over. Talking to my agents that might be handled by the USDA," said David Paquette, Bakersfield Code Enforcement.
Sargeant has seen his share of troubles. In May he pleaded no contest to a charge of giving unlawful gifts. Tulare prosecutors say he bribed the former director of the Tulare County Animal Shelter into providing euthanized dogs and cats to his business.
Sargeant told 17 News by phone he wasn't trying to buy influence, because he is the only one in the western U.S. who provides this type of specimen service. The Tulare D.A.'s office confirms Sargeant's plea deal does not prevent him from continuing to operate his business.
