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<h1><font size=4><b>Activist who refused grand jury testimony now charged
with conspiracy</b></font></h1><font size=3><b>Ann McGlynn | Posted:
Thursday, November 19, 2009 10:20 am<br>
<a href="http://www.qctimes.com/news/local/article_f77ee8a0-d527-11de-81f3-001cc4c002e0.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.qctimes.com/news/local/article_f77ee8a0-d527-11de-81f3-001cc4c002e0.html<br>
<br>
</a></b>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.<br><br>
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.<br><br>
“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.<br><br>
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.<br><br>
DeMuth is being held in the Muscatine County Jail. Feldman is in the
Washington County Jail.<br><br>
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.<br><br>
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.<br><br>
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.<br><br>
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.<br><br>
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.<br><br>
The environment for researchers at the university, Skorton said, was
"permanently altered."<br><br>
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."<br><br>
They break into buildings to release animals, destroy property and use
intimidation to "prevent further animal abuse and murder," the
site says.<br><br>
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.<br><br>
It is unclear whether DeMuth’s civil contempt still stands.<br><br>
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.<br>
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