Suspected ALF Saboteur Sentenced for ELF Action

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After years on the run, Justin Solondz pleads guilty to role in Washington ELF arson.

On March 16th, Justin Solondz was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for his role in the 2001 ELF arson at the University of Washington. The action targeted the UW Urban Horticulture building, which the ELF stated in their communique was the site of genetic engineering work on trees.

Solondz is also charged with a role in the 2001 arson of a Bureau of Land Management wild horse corral in Susanville, California. The action was claimed by the Animal Liberation Front. It was not immediately clear if last month’s guilty plea also resolved that charge.

Solondz was indicted in 2006, and spent two years as a fugitive before being arrested on marijuana possession charges in China in 2008. His attorney stated in court documents that Solondz’s imprisonment in China included being “chained naked in a glass-enclosed cell” by Chinese authorities. For much of his nearly three years in Chinese custody, he was forced to shell peas all day, and would not be fed unless he met a quota.

Solondz was extradited to the US in 2011 and taken into US custody. Shortly after, his codefendant and former girlfriend Brianna Waters agreed to cooperate against him in exchange for a lighter sentence.

 

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Grand Jury Resister Jordan Halliday Taken Into Custody

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Jordan Halliday taken into custody early for giving an interview.

Exact details are unknown, but yesterday Jordan Halliday was taken into custody on an apparent bail violation for conducting an interview with vegan and straight edge clothing company Motive. Halliday’s bail conditions require he “not associate with ELF, ALF, or vegan straightedge animal liberation groups or members” (that is not an error or an exaggeration: In effect, Halliday was barred from contact with vegans who do not use drugs). Rather than turn himself in at a future date to begin serving his 10-month sentence, he must begin the sentence now.

Halliday was sentenced to 10-months for Criminal Contempt after refusing to give testimony to a grand jury investigating the release of mink from two fur farms in Utah. The raids were claimed by the Animal Liberation Front. Recently, Halliday lost his appeal and was ordered to serve 10-months in federal prison.

Calls to jail needed

Please call 801-451-4200, option 0 – ask he get vegan food and use the information below to send him your letters of support

To write to Jordan Halliday:

Address is:

Jordan Halliday #201200256
Davis County Correctional Facility
PO Box 130
Farmington, UT 84025

General prison mail rules

1) No writing in marker, no glitter, stickers, staples, paper clips, etc.

2) This jail only accepts cards and letters – don’t put anything extra in an envelope (no stamps, pictures, etc). Always include your return address on the outside of the envelope as well as on the letter itself (Jordan may not get the envelope).

3) Postcards: Write small but DO include your return address somewhere on it. Mail may be rejected without a return address.

4) Don’t talk about anything illegal. Don’t talk about Jordan’s case. Everything you write to Jordan is going to be read and scanned in by jail officials.

Letters are a crucial lifeline for animal liberation prisoners. Please write Jordan a letter of support.

– Peter Young

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Interview With Pair Accused of Attempted Mink Release in Iowa

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Reposted from the Support Kellie and Victor site.

Interview with Kellie

What is your favorite food ever?
Kellie: I’d have to say my favorite food would be the delicious food our wonderful friends at The Vegan Yacht make. The Leftovers Sandwich in particular – warm field roast, tomato, lettuce, and cranberry sauce on olive ciabatta bread. So good!

What turned you vegan?
Kellie: I went vegan three years ago after being a vegetarian for a long time. There was nothing out of the ordinary that made me go vegan, it just felt right. I felt it was something I was supposed to do. I never transitioned into it, I did it as soon as I decided. After that I got curious about it and realized the horrors of the dairy and egg industry. I will never stop being vegan, it’s much more than a dietary choice to me, it’s a way of life and a call to action.

How did you get into activism?
Kellie: I got active in animal rights a year or so after going vegan. I would watch lectures and read various literature on the subject of animal rights and ethics. My principles became more clearly defined. I realized how important it was to make people aware of animal suffering because the animals couldn’t do it themselves.

What was your experience with the vegan food in the Iowa jail?

*****

Read the rest of the interview Kellie’s interview, and the full interview with Victor, here.

And buy one (or many) of their new support shirts, to raise money for their legal case.

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Support Shirts for Pair Accused of Attempted Fur Farm Break-In

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Funds needed for Kellie and Victor VanOrden, accused of an attempted mink liberation in Iowa.

Victor and Kellie were arrested in October near Circle K mink and fox farm in Sioux City, Iowa. Police allegedly found a hole cut in the fence and the two dressed in black, and a search of their vehicle turned up more items deemed suspicious. The two were charged with attempting to release animals from the farm.

Another (approximately) $7,500 is needed in the next month to pay attorney fees. Getting the best possible outcome in difficult cases requires the best possible defense. Your donations can literally buy freedom for an animal liberation prisoner.

These awesome shirts have been printed to raise money for Victor and Kellie. Please click on the image to purchase. (If you don’t see the size you want, email curedollyyy@aol.com and ask about availability)

The two desperately need money to fight their case and keep them from a lengthy prison sentence, and all funds from t-shirts will go to their defense.

Here is a synopsis of the current state of their case, from their support group:

“Victor and Kellie have pleaded “not guilty” but the chances of all charges being dropped is slim to none. If convicted, the ideal situation would be that their plea agreement would consist of two of the four charges being dropped. If this is indeed what happens on January 24th, then they will be sentenced to approximately 12-18 months in prison. The longer their lawyers can work on the case the more likely their sentencing time will be drastically reduced (i.e. some of the charges will be dropped).”

Victor and Kellie and accused of attempting to liberate the captives of an atrocious mink and fox factory farm (as I can testify from visiting this farm myself in 1997), with 5,000 captives. It is the obligation of those who are not putting themselves on the frontlines to support those who are.

Read background and updates on their case at the Support Victor and Kellie site. There is a Pay Pal link to donate, and other ways you can help.

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ALF / ELF Prisoner Justin Solondz Pleads Guilty to Arson

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Five years since being indicted, Justin Solondz has pleaded guilty to making the incendiary devices used to burn down the University of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture. The fire was claimed by the Earth Liberation Front.

Solondz was also charged with the 2001 arson at a Susanville, CA BLM wild horse corral, claimed by the Animal Liberation Front. It was not immediately clear if his guilty plea resolved that charge as well.

He expects a seven-year prison sentence as part of a deal with prosecutors. Sentencing is set for March 16.

Solonz was indicted in 2006 along with 17 others as part of the “Operation Backfire” indictment (also called “The Green Scare” case), which brought charges for 17 ALF and ELF arsons going back to 1996.

As a fugitive, he was arrested in China on what allegedly were drug charges. Solondz spent 2.5 years in a Chinese prison, before being extradited to the United States. Earlier this year, his former girlfriend and co-defendant Briana Waters agreed to testify against him in exchange for a lenient sentence.

Three people charged in Operation Backfire remain fugitives.

– Peter Young

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Activists Arrested in Dallas for Throwing Fake Blood on Store

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Two activists have been arrested for alleged vandalism at Neiman Marcus

On November 25th, two men were arrested for allegedly throwing red paint on a Neiman Marcus store, which sells fur. Damages were reported at $3,000.

Mathew Kirk Markovitch, 22, and Zechariah Thomas Vasquez, 19 were arrested at a protest for the alleged vandalism. There is no information about how long they spent in jail, or if they are seeking support. They are charged with “criminal mischief”.

– Peter Young

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Court Affirms 10 Month Sentence for Grand Jury Resister

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Jordan Halliday must spend 10 months in prison for refusing testimony to a grand jury investigating the ALF.

An appellate court has upheld the 10 month sentence given to Jordan Halliday for his refusal to talk to a grand jury seeking indictments for Animal Liberation Front mink releases in Utah. Halliday must now serve the remainder of his 10 month sentence.

In late-winter 2009, Jordan Halliday received a subpoena compelling him to testify. Grand juries generally do not disclose the crimes they are investigating, but it became clear they were seeking indictments for two 2008 mink releases in Utah that had been claimed by the Animal Liberation Front. The grand jury would later indict Alex Hall and William Viehl for one of the actions – a release of 650 mink from a fur farm in South Jordan, Utah.

Halliday entered into the grand jury room on the date he was ordered to appear, but refused to answer their questions. In addition to questions about the ALF mink releases, he was asked questions outside the scope of the investigation, and it was clear the grand jury was being used as a fishing expedition to gather information on the animal rights movement in Utah.

It was not immediately clear when Halliday must report to prison. More details will be posted when available.

– Peter Young

Learn about how to best respond to a grand jury subpoena by reading If An Agent Knocks by the Center for Constitutional Rights.

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Two Jailed for Attempted Mink Farm Raid Released

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Two arrested at an Iowa mink farm released on bail, face new felony charge

After 16 days, Kellie Marshall and Victor Vandoren were released from jail on bail last week. They were arrested near the Circle K fur farm in Sioux City, Iowa. Police allege the two attempted to cut the fence of the farm and were interrupted by the fur farmer in the act.

At their most recent court date, the state of Iowa added a new felony charge of (in legal shorthand) “ANIMAL FACILITY-DESTRUCT OF PROP/INJURY TO ANIMAL”.   However the media, from day one of this case, has been unable to agree if any animals were actually released in the incident, with one paper reporting Victor Vandoren is charged with “releasing an animal from an animal facility”.

They face a maximum 12-15 year sentence.

They currently face these charges: As of Thursday, their charges are now ANIMAL FACILITY-DESTRUCT OF PROP/INJURY TO ANIMAL (Class D Felony), BURGLARY 3RD DEGREE (Class D Felony), POSSESSION OF BURGLAR’S TOOLS (Aggravated Misdemeanor), and CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 4TH DEGREE (Misdemeanor).

The case could still go federal, as is most often the case with incidents the government can classify as “eco-terrorism”. If it takes such a turn, the two could be charged under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act. However because the damages were small, AETA sentencing guidelines would make it unlikely the pair would face years in prison (though it is possible). It has also been speculated the case may remain at the state level because the two would actually face more time than if prosecuted federally (federal crimes, generally, carry much stiffer sentences).

The two are trying to raise money for lawyers to fight these serious charges. Visit the Support Kellie and Victor support site to learn how you can donate.

– Peter Young

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New Felony Charge for Florida Activist Arrested At Whale Holding Facility

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From Negotiation is Over

On September 10, Chris Lagergren was arrested at gunpoint in Key Largo by Sgt. Javier Ortiz — an officer with a history of misconduct and brutality. His crimes included taking pictures of pilot whales at the Marine Mammal Conservancy and allegedly tampering with a fence. He was charged with three misdemeanors: 2 counts of Tresspass and 1 count of Criminal Mischief.

A bombshell was dropped in court today when prosecutors seemingly pulled a felony count out of thin air: under the Florida Animal Enterprise Protection Act, he was charged under Statute is 828.42 “Animal enterprise disruption”. Although an arraignment date has not been set, Chris now faces three separate trials in the Circuit Courts and, possibly, 7 years if convicted.

It is interesting to note that the prosecutors offered no further evidence or grounds upon which this charge is predicated. But, clearly, Florida prosecutors are determined to make an example of Chris and, therefore, it is incumbent upon every one of us to make sure he has an adequate and effective defense team.

When the state targets one of us, they target all of us.

But Chris is also a personal friend and an activist that the animals cannot afford to lose. Please continue to contribute to his legal expenses.

• Buy Merchandise & Donate at Eleventh Hour Liberation
• Visit Activist Legal Defense Fund
• If you donate through NIO, please specify “Support Chris”

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Most Serious Charge Dropped Against Pair Caught at Iowa Fur Farm

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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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Breaking: Two Arrested For Attempted Break-In at Iowa Fur Farm

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Two arrested attempting to break into a Sioux City, Iowa mink and fox farm

Updated 12:20pm with jail address to send letters of support

Little information is available, but local media is reporting two “animal activists” have been arrested at a fur farm in Sioux City, Iowa. The arrests were made October 10th,  just three days after 1,200 mink were released from the Palmer Erickson fur farm in Jewell, Iowa, approximately 3 hours away.

Arrested were Kellie Marshall, 29, and Victor Vandoren, 24, both of Austin, Texas.

Police captured the pair after they allegedly cut into a fence and “tried to free some of the animals” at the fur farm. Police used a K-9 dog and discovered the two dressed in black. They were charged with 2nd Degree Criminal Mischief, Attempted Burglary and Possession of Burglary Tools.

Although the media has not yet named the farm, I know from personal experience the farm in question is the Circle K Fur Farm. I was charged for the release of 5,000 mink and 100 fox from the same farm in 1998. These are the details of the farm, from The Blueprint fur farm list:

Circle K Fur Farm
3701 Memorial Drive
Sioux City, IA 51104
Phone: (712) 252-2202
Owner: Steven Krage
Status: Confirmed open, 2009.
Species: Mink & fox.
Notes: Approximately 5,000 mink & 100 fox.

Strangely, the arrests of October 10th have received very little attention in the media (as of this writing), and the event somehow escaped mention in the media entirely until a full three days after the incident.

Letters of support

Letters of support and donation for their commissary fund can be sent to:

Kellie Marshall / Victor Vandoren
Woodbury County Jail
PO Box 3083
Sioux City, Iowa 51102

Letters must have a return address. Please write them letters of support today, and let them know the outside world knows they are in jail and are supported.

– Peter Young

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Walter Bond Sentenced to 7 years for Two ALF Arsons

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Walter Bond unapologetic at Utah sentencing, receives 7 years for two Animal Liberation Front arsons

Today, Walter Bond was sentenced in Salt Lake City to an additional 87 months for two more Animal Liberation Front arsons, to run consecutive to his current 5-year sentence. Altogether, Bond will serve 12 years for setting fire to three animal abuse targets:

Sheepskin Factory
Denver, Colorado
Set on fire April 30th
$500,000 damages.

The Tandy Leather Factory
Salt Lake City, Utah
Set on fire June 5, 2010
Less than $20,000 damages.

Tiburon
Sandy, Utah
Set on fire July 2, 2010
Approx. $80,000 in damages.

A few notes from those who were present:

*Approximately 10 supporters were in attendance at the hearing.
*Someone associated with Tiburon testified they sustained $80K in damages, a much greater amount than previously reported.
*Walter was said to be relaxed and smiling at his supporters.

Bond was indicted by a federal grand jury after admitting to his brother that he set the fires. The conversation was secretly recorded as part of an ATF sting, and Bond was subsequently arrested and charged with all three of the ALF “Lone Wolf”-claimed arsons.

Bond remained unapologetic at his sentencing. When asked if he had any final words to the court before being sentenced, he made the following statement:

Walter Bond’s Statement to the Court in Utah

“I’m here today because of the arsons I committed at the Tandy Leather Factory in Salt Lake City and the Tiburon restaurant in (more…)

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