[Ppnews] Iowa Activist who refused grand jury testimony now charged with conspiracy

[Political Prisoner News]

Activist who refused grand jury testimony now charged with conspiracy

Ann McGlynn | Posted: Thursday, November 19, 2009 10:20 am
http://www.qctimes.com/news/local/article_f77ee8a0-d527-11de-81f3-001cc4c002e0.html

A Minnesota activist who refused to testify 
earlier this week before a federal grand jury in 
Davenport is now charged with conspiracy for an 
act of “animal enterprise terrorism” ­ believed 
to be a 2004 animal-rights vandalism act at the University of Iowa.

Scott DeMuth, 22, made his initial appearance 
this morning on a charge of conspiracy. DeMuth 
was already in custody for contempt of court 
because of his refusal to testify. Fellow 
activist Carrie Feldman, who at one time dated 
DeMuth, also refused to testify and is in custody.

“Scott Ryan DeMuth did knowingly and 
intentionally conspire with persons unknown to 
the grand jury to commit animal enterprise 
terrorism and cause economic damage to the animal 
enterprise in an amount exceeding $10,000,” the indictment unsealed today says.

The indictment does not specifically say the 
charge is in connection to the University of Iowa 
action. However, the time frame and indication 
that it was in Johnson County match. Furthermore, 
federal authorities considered the extensive 
vandalism an act of terrorism. And DeMuth and 
Feldman both have said the Nov. 14 vandalism is 
what federal authorities wanted them to testify about.

DeMuth is being held in the Muscatine County 
Jail. Feldman is in the Washington County Jail.

The FBI was called in to investigate the November 
2004 vandalism and break-in at the University of 
Iowa's Spence Laboratories and Seashore Hall.

The Animal Liberation Front, an underground 
animal-rights activist group, claimed 
responsibility for the damage to lab equipment 
and the release of 88 mice and 313 rats used in 
psychology department experiments. The break-in 
was designated as domestic terrorism.

UI officials estimated the damage in the hundreds 
of thousands of dollars and offered a $10,000 
reward for tips leading to identification of the 
vandals. The university also increased security at its labs after the break-in.

A 50-minute video released to the media by ALF 
after the break-in showed at least four masked 
people had access to electronic keys and took 
their time as they ransacked the laboratories.

David Skorton, then president of the university, 
condemned the destruction and the implied threat 
to researchers in an e-mail, which listed 
researcher names, home addresses and phone 
numbers. The e-mail was posted on a Web site that 
posts reports of ALF activity.

The environment for researchers at the 
university, Skorton said, was "permanently altered."

ALF, according to its Web site, is "a loosely 
associated collection of cells of people who 
intentionally violate the law in order to free 
animals from captivity and the horrors of 
exploitation." The people in one cell do not know 
people in other cells to "prevent legal 
authorities from breaking up the organization."

They break into buildings to release animals, 
destroy property and use intimidation to "prevent 
further animal abuse and murder," the site says.

Feldman, 20, and DeMuth, both from Minneapolis, 
were ordered held Tuesday until they decide to 
testify before the grand jury, Judge John Jarvey 
ruled. Their confinement could be for the term of 
the grand jury ­ which they believe has 11 months 
remaining ­ or until the end of this proceeding, 
federal code says. The longest they can be held is 18 months.

It is unclear whether DeMuth’s civil contempt still stands.

About 40 people from across the Midwest traveled 
to support Feldman and DeMuth, who spoke at a 
rally outside the courthouse in downtown 
Davenport before their appearance. The protesters 
were met by a heavy police presence.
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