A Skagit County, Wash., dairy worker injured chasing a cow has been accused of illegally collecting $122,417 in workers’ compensation while being fit enough to work.

Efrain Alatorre Camarena, 58, of Sedro Woolley, has been charged with one count of first-degree theft, according to the Washington Department of Labor and Industries. A Skagit County Superior Court judge issued an arrest warrant March 10 for Camarena when he failed to appear for his arraignment, L&I said in a statement March 18.

Camarena allegedly collected workers’ compensation between January 2020 and August 2023, while working at a dairy and earning a total of $172,000, according to L&I.

Camarena fell and hurt his lower back and neck in 2006 while chasing a runaway cow at a dairy. A doctor determined he could not work and received workers’ compensation payments for more than five years, according to L&I.

He applied to reopen his claim in 2018. The payments resumed in early 2020 after he had a surgery related to his original injuries, according to L&I..

He received 94 payments over 3 ½ years while working at another dairy, L&I alleges. He allegedly indicated on forms 47 times that he was not working and was unable to work.

Carmena had worked at the second dairy since 2011, according to court records.