Man pleads guilty to sabotaging machine at Pilgrim’s Pride

One man decided to avoid his criminal trial by accepting a plea agreement several minutes before the trial was scheduled to begin Wednesday morning.

Tony Welborn, 28, 89 Sutton Lane in Spruce Pine, was scheduled to stand trial on first-degree criminal mischief charges for damaging equipment at Pilgrim’s Pride in Russellville, but instead opted to accept a plea agreement at the last minute, Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said.

According to Rushing, Welborn was employed as a pallat jack driver at the plant, which included transporting chicken to and from the grinding machines.

During the third shift on Feb. 4, 2010, workers detected a large piece of metal in the grinder that caused $15,000 worth of damage to the machine.

Rushing said the piece of metal was determined to be a paperweight from another employee’s office, and Welborn was one of three employees on the third shift with access to that employee’s office.

“When Mr. Welborn was questioned by Investigator Greg Pinkard with the sheriff’s department, he admitted he put the paperweight in the machine because he was angry that he had been passed over for a promotion,” Rushing said.

“After he admitted to putting the metal in the grinder, he was arrested and charged with first-degree criminal mischief for intentionally damaging property with a value over $2,500.”

Welborn waited until the morning of the trial to finally accept the plea to a 10-year sentence for first-degree criminal mischief.

Rushing said even though first-degree criminal mischief is a Class C felony that carries a sentence of one to 10 years in prison if convicted, Welborn had two prior felony convictions, so the sentence if convicted for this crime would have been extended to a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.

“We’re pleased with the fact that Mr. Welborn finally took responsibility for his actions,” Rushing said. “Anytime someone tampers with food it can be a dangerous situation for the company and for the consumers.

“We appreciate the jurors for their willingness to serve and the employees and officials from Pilgrim’s Pride for their cooperation in this case.”

Welborn is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on March 22.

Welborn has applied for probation, but Rushing said he would seek the full 10-year sentence.

“Hopefully this will send a message that, even if you are upset about a situation at your job, you can’t resort to criminal activity to retaliate.”