Most Serious Charge Dropped Against Pair Caught at Iowa Fur Farm
Attempted burglary charges dropped against two arrested at mink farm + new details about the arrest
In a positive development, attempted burglary charges against two people arrested at an Iowa mink farm last week were inexplicably dropped. Kellie Rose Marshall, 21, and Victor Vanorden, 24, still each face a charge of possession of burglar’s tools, a misdemeanor, and a charge of second-degree criminal mischief, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Vanorden also faces a misdemeanor charge of carrying a weapon.
The pair were arrested a the rear of the farm late on the night of October 10th, where police found several holes cut in the chicken wire fence. They also found maps, hiking equipment, police scanners, a machete and more than $700 cash in a vehicle parked next to a gate behind the property.
The media has been unable to agree on whether any animals were released the night the pair were arrested, with some reports stating a small number of animals had been released but recaptured.
In 1997, approximately 5,000 mink and more than 100 silver foxes were released from the same farm.
In my non-lawyer opinion, it is likely the FBI is looking at filing federal charges against the pair. When there have been arrests, most “crimes” fitting the Animal Liberation Front model has been prosecuted federally. The case against Alex Hall and William Viehl included an Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act charge for a similar “attempted raid” at a fur farm in Utah. No animals were released in that attempted raid, and the pair were merely pulled over by police in proximity of the farm.
As I heard repeated often by pre-trial prisoners in jail: “Hope for the best, prepare for the worst”.
– Peter Young
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Hello,
I cannot tell you how proud and grateful I am for all that all of you have done for Minks and I am sure for other animals too. Your persistence has paid off and my heart is so happy when an animal’s life is saved. You have done some outrageous things to spare the lives of Minks and you people deserve an award and much more recognition. You deserve more than words can say. May God continue to bless you, guide you and protect you and every animal.
Sincerely,
Katrina Kroneberg
Twitter Follower and Followed By You
White trash radical vegans from uncool states– and I use that term lovingly– are the shit. All the compassion and love for animals– none of the pretentious cliquey hipster bullshit abound at Red and Black. Whoda thunk it was a cute little blonde Texan with owies on her face and her tubby friend? Shows what those bastards in pdx know.
You are not “saving” any mink by releasing them from fur farms. They will for the most part die of starvation shortly after being released, perhaps carrying some disease out to the surrounding wildlife in the process. Freedom will not be a joyous frolicking in the woods for them, just a time of terror and hunger. And, of course, the fur farm just brings in more mink to replace the ones you released, meaning that the primary result of your release is more dead mink. You would have much more effective results by convincing someone not to purchase a fur coat. Might not feel very revolutionary and cool though.