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Opening Arguments Conclude in Day 1 of Sonoma County Trial for DxE Operative Charged with Conspiracy, Burglary, and Theft

  • Sonoma County Family Farmers Alliance
  • Oct 6
  • 2 min read

Zoe Rosenberg faces felony conspiracy charge in Sonoma County Superior Court case


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Petaluma, Calif. — The trial of Zoe Rosenberg, a Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) operative, officially began this afternoon in Sonoma County Superior Court following opening arguments. Rosenberg faces one felony conspiracy charge and three misdemeanor counts, including trespassing and theft. The charges allege Rosenberg illegally entered a Petaluma Poultry facility in 2023 disguised as an employee and stole multiple chickens from the property.


“The prosecution presented facts and only facts today, shining a bright light on the defendant’s outsized role in a highly coordinated, dangerous, and reckless set of actions,” said Dayna Ghirardelli, Executive Director of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau. “Don’t believe the rosy conclusion that this was simply a rescue of a few chickens – this was a multi-faceted criminal act that included disguising as a Petaluma Poultry employee, placing GPS tracking devices on company vehicles, and  some of the company’s proprietary records, and cherry-picked imagery to fit her narrative, behind the guise of an “investigation” that is backed by self-purpose- eradication of all animal agriculture.”


Targeting Petaluma Poultry is part of DxE’s ongoing intimidation campaign to eliminate animal agriculture in Sonoma County. The defendant’s reckless actions include:


  • Breaking into chicken houses under cover of darkness to steal livestock, recklessly jeopardizing biosecurity and animal health.

  • Accessing company data and privileged information through private computer systems.

  • Harassing associates and their families at private residences.

  • Disrupting businesses and restaurants across Northern California.


This reckless attempt to wipe out local farming goes against Sonoma County’s long history of responsible animal agriculture – and the community has shown they disagree, with more than 3,500 residents signing a petition supporting local farms and families that depend on them.


Petaluma Poultry is a recognized leader in free-range and organic poultry, with farms and facilities subject to rigorous independent audits and government oversight. The company remains united with its associates and neighbors against these illegal tactics and will continue to defend the region’s food supply, the importance of local agriculture, and the future of responsible animal farming. Allegations being circulated by DxE are false, misleading and designed to advance a radical agenda that ignores the reality of the hard work that goes into raising animals the right way.

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