Petition denied Baker must pay $162,800 USDA fine
By Joseph Ledford, Local Edition Editor
A judge has ruled that Leroy Baker Jr., owner of the Sugarcreek Livestock Auction, will indeed have to pay a civil penalty of $162,800 for multiple violations of the Commercial Transportation of Equines for Slaughter Act. On December 1, Baker had filed a petition for the fine to be reconsidered by USDA Judicial Officer William Jenson, who on November 17, upheld the fine originally ordered by Administrative Law Judge Jill S. Clifton. On December 15, Jenson denied Baker’s petition to reconsider.