Judge Denies Motion in Animal Liberation Front Case
William Viehl expected to receive 1 to 2+ years for the Animal Liberation Front release of 600 mink. Judge compares A.L.F. mink liberators to 9-11 hijackers.
In an opinion published today, Judge Dee Benson denied William Viehl’s motion for the judge to step down from the A.L.F. case. This is the first guilty plea under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, and the first Animal Liberation Front (A.L.F.) sentencing in over 2 years.
On December 11th, BJ’s lawyer and the prosecutor sparred in court over whether statements and a photo slideshow given by the prosecution in court amounted to a breach of the plea deal. A subsequent motion was filed asking the judge to step down from the case. The slideshow featured numerous photos of A.L.F. arsons, and Animal Liberation Front communiques for actions unrelated to those BJ and Alex Hall are accused of.
On Tuesday, January 12th, the judge issued his ruling: The prosecution did not breach the plea deal, judge Benson would not remove himself from the case, and BJ would be sentenced by him as scheduled.
BJ’s first sentencing date was in November, where he was to be sentenced for the liberation of 600 mink from the McMullin Fur Farm in South Jordan, Utah. The judge at that time announced he intended to sentence BJ to more than quadruple the recommended sentence of six months. BJ entered court expecting a possible sentence of “time served”, yet the judge announced he was “inclined” to give BJ a sentence of up to or above two years in prison.
For BJ, Tuesday’s ruling means Judge Benson will likely give him the threatened sentence of 1 to 2 years, or more. While elsewhere in Salt Lake City people receive less time for violent crimes, abusers of companion animals receive probation, and institutional animal killers like mink farmer Lindsay McMullin walk free, Wiliam “BJ” Viehl is likely to receive two years in prison for the selfless and compassionate A.L.F. liberation of animals from a mink death camp.
Even in the death-machine paradigm of “compassion” for those few species from which little or no profit is derived, and demonizing anyone who acts in defense of other species as “ecoterrorists”, activists in the past received have two years for their role in six mink releases. BJ stands to face the same sentence for his role in just one.
Any activist going before Judge Benson has cause to be concerned: Benson is also presiding over the case of Tim DeChristopher, an environmental activist facing federal charges for placing false bids to derail an oil lease auction near Moab. In both Viehl and DeChristopher’s case, judge Benson compared their non-violent actions to those of Al Qaeda and the 9-11 hijackers.
No sentencing date for BJ has yet been announced. BJ’s codefendant, Alex Hall, has stated his intention to take the case to trial rather than accept a plea bargain and guarantee another exorbitant sentence from judge Benson.
I intend to be present in court for Bj’s sentencing, and will be posting a full report then.
-Peter Young
Please write them both a letter during this difficult time:
William James Viehl
Inmate #2009-05735
Davis County Jail
800 West State St.
Farmington, UT 84025
Alex Hall
Inmate #2009-06304
Davis County Jail
800 West State St.
Farmington, UT 84025
That Judge Benson is stupid. How did he ever get to be a judge? He is sick to reward animal abusers and punish (excessively) those who try to rescue the animals. The animal abusers should be excessively punished. He’s got it backwards. I am proud of the ALF for having the courage to do what is right.