Posted on 05/25/2005 8:43:24 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
(Accused of releasing mink from farms)
Supporters of an animal rights activist Peter D. Young crowded into a federal courtroom Tuesday afternoon as Young was arraigned on charges of interference with interstate commerce and animal enterprise terrorism. Young allegedly released thousands of mink from Wisconsin farms in 1997.
About 50 people watched as attorney Chris Kelly entered not guilty pleas on behalf of Young, 27, formerly of Mercer Island, Wash. Magistrate Theresa Owens continued detention after finding Young, who was a fugitive until recently, to be a flight risk and a danger to the community.
Young was picked up in March in San Jose, Calif., for shoplifting CDs. He told police that he was Simon Zimbal but his true identity was later determined and he was taken into custody. He was then returned to Wisconsin, where he faces statutory maximum penalties of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, restitution and three years on probation.
Young and his Justin C. Samuel, were indicted in 1998 after allegedly traveling through South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin in October 1997 releasing mink from fur farms, including 3,600 from farms near Independence, Tomahawk and Medford.
Their journey was chronicled on a Web site advocating animal rights, and farmers and authorities were waiting for them in Sheboygan County, where they were initially apprehended but later released on insufficient evidence.
After being indicted both men became fugitives. Samuel was later arrested in Belgium and returned to Madison, where he was sentenced to two years in prison.
After court Tuesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Anderson said Young might not get the same plea bargain Samuel did.
"Young's fugitive status for seven years and his continuing to commit crimes - shoplifting - while a fugitive would be considered if he was convicted," Anderson said.
Kelly, who received the case on Monday, said it was too early to say what the defense strategy would be. Kelly said the government's crackdown on terrorism since the events of Sept. 11, 2001, hadn't put the case in a different posture.
"Other than the government seriously misusing the word terrorism - they like to use the word terrorism as a scare tactic, but what's been charged here isn't the equivalent of flying a plane into the World Trade Center," Kelly said.
Anderson agreed. Although 9/11 caused the FBI to pull resources from its counter-eco-terrorism activities for a few years, Young's case is still viewed as a pre-9/11 event aimed at extorting fur farmers to get out of the business or lose their sizable investment, he said.
Xcavier Johnson, of Chicago, one of Young's supporters who would identify himself to a reporter, said he doesn't believe in committing violent acts but backed Young's alleged efforts to persuade producers to leave the business of raising animals for their pelts.
"Releasing mink may not be the best strategy as, I guess, many could die in the wild, but it's better than just sitting around and letting this continue," said Johnson, who plans to show up for Young's other proceedings.
Statements on the supportpeter.com Web site urged attendance at Tuesday's arraignment. That prompted Madison police to send two uniformed officers in addition to the extra officers the U.S. Marshal's Service had on hand.
An activist who wouldn't disclose her name to a reporter said the FBI has become more aggressive in questioning and doing surveillance on individuals it considers possible eco-terrorists.
More thought-provoking and intelligent quotes from our local Eco Terrorists, for your reading pleasure. :)
PING
You know, first it's releasing minks from the clutches of captivity, then it's on to fire bombing SUV dealerships.
This is your brain on PETA!
This calls for a glass of milk in honor of PETA (too late for a burger).
Furthermore, I will delay bathing by 2 minutes tomorrow morning to commemorate the refusal to bath of these useless, hippy eco-terrorists.
Makes me want to burn garbage too.
Gee would spoiled, selfish, self-absorbed apply to this freak. Lets see, if mommy and daddy lived on Mercer Island, Wash maybe we should consider some of this poor deprived child's neighbor's and try to understand this boy. I can think of two people who lived there, Bill Gates and Paul Allen.
I want the MAXIMUM sentence. All twenty years, all the fine, and all the parole after.
I weep with compassion. He was on the run and desperate and really needed those CDs.
photo please
And I say lock em up and throw away the key! Why should the FBI play kids gloves with these terrorists while the RIAA, SONY other corporate thugs come down hard on folks caught sharing files?
Or am I comparing apples to oranges?
Thanks for posting. I have been following this story. I heard only a few seconds about this on TV today.
An activist who wouldn't disclose her name to a reporter said the FBI has become more aggressive in questioning and doing surveillance on individuals it considers possible eco-terrorists.
GOOD!
It's about time.
L
"I weep with compassion. He was on the run and desperate and really needed those CDs."
Awe, come on. Haven't you ever been on a road trip? The TUNES are the most important part of it, Man! /sarcasm ;)
I'll work on it! There wasn't one with this story, nor the last. I Googled him and came up empty. :(
If Mr. Johnson supports Mr. Youngs actions, he must take the same actions should he replace him, or he is a hypocrite. These domestic terrorists have a serious problem with thought. It is probably painful, so they avoid it. 
Is it too much to ask the people of the Pacific Northwest to keep their nutballs at home? Why do we here in the midwest have to suffer them?
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