Animal rights activist won't testify, stays in jail

Deseret News
Published: Thursday, May 21, 2009 12:31 p.m. MDT

An animal-rights activist jailed for refusing to testify before a federal grand jury will remain behind bars.

During a hearing Thursday in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City, Jordan Halliday was ordered to remain in jail until the grand jury finishes its term at the end of June. U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell also asked federal prosecutors to provide Halliday's attorney with dates of grand-jury sittings, should he change his mind and decide to testify.

Halliday, 21, was one of two animal-rights activists subpoenaed to testify before the grand jury that is presumably investigating a series of Animal Liberation Front raids on mink farms in the area. Halliday has denied involvement in the raids, but prosecutors believe he knows something about it.

Two activists, Alexander Jason Hall, 20, and William James Viehl, 22, were indicted on charges of damage and interference with animal enterprises. Halliday has acknowledged to the Deseret News that he knows both men.

- Ben Winslow