Has A.L.F. Prisoner Walter Bond Pleaded Guilty?

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Walter Bond fuels speculations of a guilty plea by asking supporters to write judge

This week Walter Bond’s support group sent a request to supporters asking they write Walter’s judge and request “the minimum sentence”, a request that would indicate Walter has pleaded guilty to two Animal Liberation Front arsons: Tandy Leather Factory in Salt Lake City, and Tiburon (foie gras restaurant), in a neighboring suburb.

Walter Bond was recently transported to Utah from Colorado, where he received a 5 year sentence for burning down Sheepskin Factory, a sheepskin retail store.

The message from SupportWalter.com read:

“Walter needs your help!

Write a letter today to Judge Stewart, requesting the minimum sentence for Walter Bond.  Your letter will help to give a more 3-dimensional and personal perspective on the positive character attributes Walter possesses and how highly he is valued by his friends and associates.  The judge who handled Walter’s case in Denver made a point to say that she read over 50 letters people like you and me sent her way before handing down the minimum penalty.

Please write this letter immediately and send it off ASAP!  Inspire others to write a letter as well by forwarding the Animal Rights Prisoner Support Newsletter  www.arprisoners.org where two of Walter’s articles —  “Why I am Vegan” and “Slaughterhouse Blues” —  appear.

Address a formal business letter to:

The Honorable Judge Ted Stewart
United States District Court
District Of Utah
Chamber #148
350 South Main Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101

Include your address and the date.  The salutation is, “Dear Judge Stewart:” and the reference is “United States of America v. Walter Bond.”

Please send this letter to Walter’s public defender, who will deliver all the letters to the Judge himself.

Nathan Crane, Esq.
STIRBA & ASSOCIATES
215 South State Street, Suite 750
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111

Finally, please mail a copy of your letter to Walter as well, to keep him informed:
Walter Bond
2011-03339
Davis County Jail
PO Box 130
Farmington UT 84025-0130

Tell Judge Stewart why you think our hero Walter Bond deserves his leniency.  By doing this, you will actually increase Walter’s chances of a receiving the minimum.

Thanks everybody!”

There was no mention of a guilty plea, but the message would indicate news of this may be coming shortly.

In the meantime, please write Walter’s judge and request the minimum sentence. Several judges in past cases have remarked that letters influenced their sentence.

More developments on the Walter Bond case will be posted as they come in.

-Peter Young

A.L.F. Prisoner Walter Bond Arrives in a Utah Jail

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Walter Bond arrives in Utah to face more charges for A.L.F. arsons

After receiving a five-year sentence for burning down the Sheepskin Factory store in Denver, Walter Bond arrived in Utah last week to face more charges for arsons claimed by the Animal Liberation Front.

Bond spent weeks in transit. As reported on Green is the New Red, much of this this time Bond spent in solitary, classified as part of a “security threat group”. Bond spent time at jails in Oklahoma and Nevada, before arriving last week in Farmington, Utah. He is being held at the same jail where A.L.F. prisoners Alex Hall and William Viehl spent most of their imprisonment.

The charges

The second set of arson charges stem from two Animal Liberation Front arsons in the Salt Lake City area – Tiburon (foie gras restaurant), and the Tandy Leather Factory. Both businesses were set on fire in overnight actions, and later claimed by the “A.L.F. Lone Wolf”.

Bond has been charged with arson and Animal Enterprise Terrorism charges for both A.L.F. actions. He has pleaded not guilty.

Good News

The good news: Bond has been appointed a judge, and it is NOT the Utah federal judge who sentenced ALF prisoners William Viehl and Alex Hall to exorbitant sentences that were over four times the sentence called for by federal sentencing guidelines. That judge (Dee Benson) displayed a clear disdain for animal liberation activity, as evidenced by his extreme sentences, comments made in the courtroom, and rumors of his ties to the fur industry.

Walter Bond’s trial is scheduled for June.

– Peter Young

Write Walter Bond a letter of support:

Davis County Jail
Walter Bond 2011-03339
PO Box 130
Farmington UT 84025-0130

Visit the Support Walter site

Walter Bond Receives Minimum Sentence in A.L.F. Arson

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Judge sentences Walter Bond to 5 years for Sheepskin Factory arson

After a defiant speech in which Walter Bond told the court that carrying out Animal Liberation Front actions “was the proudest and most powerful thing I have ever done”, a judge sentenced Bond to the minimum of 5 years in prison.

Walter Bond was arrested last summer and charged with Animal Liberation Front arsons which targeted three animal exploitation businesses: Sheepskin Factory (Denver), Tandy Leather Factory (Salt Lake City), and Tiburon (near Salt Lake City).

The  5-year sentence was for the Sheepskin Factory arson alone, and Bond awaits trial for the remaining two arsons. If found guilty, Bond could receive a concurrent sentence, or a sentence which could run consecutive. A consecutive sentence would add, at minimum, an additional 5 years to Bond’s sentence.  Bond is expected to be extradited to Utah for the remaining charges very soon.

Walter Bond delivered a scathing speech before his sentence, in which he said “I am not sorry for anything I have done”, and “the Animal Liberation Front is the answer” (to animal exploitation). The full transcript of Walter Bond’s speech is as follows: (more…)

Two Animal Liberation Front (A.L.F.) Prisoners Released

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A.L.F. prisoners Jonathan Paul and Alex Hall are released from prison

While formal announcement have not been made by either party, two A.L.F. prisoners have been released in recent weeks.

Jonathan Paul released after burning down a slaughterhouse

Jonathan Pau has been released to a halfway house after being sentenced to 4 years for his role in burning down the Cavel West horse slaughterhouse. The 1997 arson in Redmond, Oregon, claimed by the Animal Liberation Front, destroyed the building and resulted in its permanent closure.

As part of his non-cooperating plea bargain (one of the only plea bargains in the string of “Green Scare” cases that did not require the prisoner to testify against others), Jonathan Paul also admitted to a role in numerous A.L.F. actions going back into the 1980s. Included were his admitted roles in the 1988 raid of Loma Linda Unversity, and being a getaway driver for the largest laboratory liberation to date: the 1989 A.L.F. raid of the University of Arizona, in which over 1,000 animals were rescued.

Mink liberation prisoner Alex Hall released

After serving a 21-month sentence for the A.L.F. liberation of 650 mink from a Utah fur farm, Alex Hall has also been released from prison.

View the Bureau of Prison’s notice of Hall’s release here.

Welcome home to both.

Two animal liberation prisoners remain

Of prisoners currently incarcerated for Animal Liberation Front / overt animal rights activity in the U.S., only Kevin Kjonas and Walter Bond remain.

Support both by writing them in prison:

Kevin Kjonaas # 93502-011
FCI Sandstone
PO Box 1000
Sandstone, MN 55072

Walter Edmund Bond
PO Box 16700
Golden, CO 80402-6700

– Peter Young

Attend Sentencing for A.L.F. Prisoner Walter Bond

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Walter Bond is requesting supporters attend his sentencing in Denver, Colorado on February 11.

Bond will be sentenced for the Animal Liberation Front arson of the Sheepskin Factory outside Denver, Colorado. After the sentencing, Bond will be moved to Utah to face charges for setting fire to two animal exploitation businesses: Tandy Leather and Tiburon (foie gras restaurant).

Day: Friday, February 11, 2011

Time: 1:30 pm

Place: Alfred A. Arraj United States Courthouse , 901 – 19 th Street, 6 th Floor, A602, Denver, Colorado

Please attend if you can.

Check Walter Bond’s support site, www.SupportWalter.org for updates.

– Peter Young

Vegan Prisoner Steve Murphy Denied Vegan Food

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E.L.F. prisoner and long-time vegan Steve Murphy is requesting help from the outside in receiving vegan food. Steve’s prison is currently on lockdown following an unknown incident, and he has been unable to receive an adequate vegan diet. Steve’s support group put out a request for calls and faxes to the prison asking Steve be given vegan food.

Contact information for the prison:

Direct
Phone:  409-727-0101
Fax:  409-720-5000

General
(202) 307-3198

STEVE MURPHY
39013-177
FCI BEAUMONT MEDIUM

Message from Steve Murphy:

“Well, Scrooge has let us out today for 20 minutes to use the showers, email and use the phones.  I am not certain when i will be able to write again thou it could be several days. i am also not certain (more…)

A.L.F. Prisoner Walter Bond Requesting Letters to Judge

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Below is a message from the support group of Walter Bond, who plead guilty to an Animal Liberation Front (A.L.F.) arson at Sheepskin Factory in Dever. Walter Bond is scheduled to be sentenced on February 11th, and is requesting letters to the judge asking for the lowest possible sentence.

The message from Walter Bond’s support group is as follows:

“Write a letter today to Judge Arguello, requesting the minimum sentence for Walter Bond. (more…)

Walter Bond Pleads Guilty To Sheepskin Factory Arson

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In court today, Walter Bond pleads guilty to burning down a Denver sheepskin dealer

In court Thursday, Walter Bond pleaded guilty to one count of “using fire or explosives to damage property involved in interstate commerce and of using force, violence or threats involving animal enterprises” under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act. He faces five to 30 years in federal prison. His sentencing was set for February 11th.

The guilty plea comes after Bond allegedly confessed to his brother that his was responsible for three A.L.F. arsons: Sheepskin Factory in Denver ($500,000 damages), Tandy Leather Factory in Salt Lake City ($30,000 damages), and the Tiburon Restaurant in Sandy ($10,000 damages). His brother had been working with the ATF, and the entire hotel room conversation was monitored. Bond was arrested soon after.

The Animal Liberation Front communique for the Sheepskin Factory fire stated the arson…

Read the government’s criminal complaint against Walter Bond here, outlining the allegations and evidence against him. The complaint breaks down the time-line of events leading up to Bond’s arrest.

In the courtroom Thursday was the owner of Sheepskin Factory. The store has since moved to a nearby location, but the owner stated his profits are down “thousands of dollars”.

Bond still has outstanding charges in Utah for the remaining two arsons. It is expected he will be extradicted to Salt Lake City to start the process again, following his sentencing in Colorado.

Most media reports have falsely stated Bond has not yet been charged with the Utah arsons, and that he is merely “under investigation”. However Bond has in fact been charged in those fires. Read the indictment for the Utah arsons here.

An FBI agent in charge had this to say:

“Our priority with acts of terrorism remains to be proactive and preventative. But when acts do occur, they will be pursued to justice.”

Walter Bond continues to be held in a Colorado jail. Please write him a letter at:

Walter Edmund Bond
PO Box 16700
Golden, CO 80402-6700

– Peter Young

Kevin Olliff Released From Prison After 18 Months

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After over a year and a half in prison on stalking charges, yesterday Kevin Olliff was released.

Kevin was charged with “stalking” for his role in the POM Wonderful and UCLA campaigns in Los Angeles. Tuesday a judge sentenced him to three years in prison. In California’s prison system, prisoners serve about half their sentence. The three-year sentence translated to his immediate release.

Very little news on Kevin’s case was publicized during his incarceration. With the lack of updates made public, the case of Kevin Olliff was sadly under-publicized and under-noticed by the animal rights movement, despite its serious implications (Kevin was convicted merely of participating in home demonstrations). Most of the news on Kevin Olliff was dominated by exaggerated and inaccurate news reports, claiming Kevin was a “member of the Animal Liberation Front”. In fact, at no point were any such allegations made by the prosecution.

Kevin has five years of probation ahead of him, but he is out of prison. Welcome home.

Jordan Halliday Sentenced to 10 Months in Prison

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Animal rights activist receives prison sentence for refusing to testify to a grand jury investigating the A.L.F.

Today, Jordan Halliday was sentenced in federal court to 10 months in prison for his refusal to answer questions during a grand jury investigating A.L.F. mink releases in Utah.

Jordan Halliday will serve 10 months in prison, in addition to the nearly four months he has already served – without credit for time served. Fortunately, he was able to walk out of the courtroom today, and will remain free until January, when he must turn himself into prison.

Halliday’s only “crime” was answering “no comment” or pleading the fifth to a series of questions relating to Animal Liberation Front activity in Utah.

Two Utah mink releases were being investigated by the grand jury: the release of 650 mink from the McMullin fur farm in South Jordan, and the release of 7,000 mink from the Lodder fur farm in Kaysville. William Viehl and Alex Hall plead guilty to carrying out the first raid. The raid of the Lodder fur farm remains unsolved. The government even expressed that Halliday is not considered a suspect in the mink releases, and is being imprisoned solely for his refusal to testify.

The backstory:

After two Utah fur farms were raided in two months in the fall of 2008, a (more…)

A Message From Vegan Prisoner Steve Murphy

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Call for support for vegan prisoner Steve Murphy

Today I received an urgent call for support for vegan prisoner Steve Murphy, serving a five years sentence for an attempted E.L.F. arson in 2006. Steve is currently having a difficult time in prison. Please read the following call for support and the statement from Steve, and write him a needed letter of support.

The following was sent by a friend of Steve’s:

“Steve Murphy is a dedicated social justice, animal rights, environmental activist and all-around good guy who now needs our support.  He’s in prison for us, and we need to be there for him now.

Steve would love letters, cards, and postcards from old friends, new friends, strangers who he would love to befriend, etc.  Please write him a quick note and let him know you’re thinking of him and believe he can make it through his time in prison.  This is very important because right now Steve is in a bad, dark place mentally – he needs every kind word he can get in order to lift his spirits.

He’d also appreciate books dealing with radical politics, environmentalism, animal rights, civil rights, atheism, anarchist history and theory, etc.  These have to be new softcover (paperback) books, mailed straight to his address from the bookseller  or publisher. (more…)

Mink Liberator William Viehl Released From Prison

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On Thursday, convicted mink liberator William “BJ” Viehl was released from federal prison.

Earlier this year, a rogue judge sentenced Viehl to 24 months in prison for the release of 650 mink from the McMullin and Sons fur farm outside of Salt Lake City. The sentence was four times what Viehl agreed to in his plea bargain.

The other prisoner in this case, Alex Hall, is expected to be released in December, despite having been sentenced to less time than his co-defendant. Release dates in the federal system are often calculated in an arbitrary way, despite a fixed sentence length.

Welcome home, BJ.

– Peter Young