Animal rights activist ordered released

Kurt Allemeier | Posted: Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Quad City Times

Scott DeMuth, the Minnesota activist who refused to testify earlier this week before a federal grand jury in Davenport, is now charged with conspiracy for an act of "animal enterprise terrorism" - believed to be a 2004 animal-rights vandalism act at the University of Iowa. (FILE PHOTO/Larry Fisher)

A federal judge Monday ordered the immediate release of a Minnesota man charged with conspiracy for his alleged involvement in the 2005 animal-rights vandalism act at a University of Iowa laboratory.

In his order, U.S. District Judge John A. Jarvey ordered Scott DeMuth, 22, to follow the conditions set down in the terms of his release in a Nov. 24 order. That order was stayed until 3 p.m. Monday, pending Jarvey's review.

DeMuth was being held at the Muscatine County Jail on the federal charge. He was already in jail for contempt of court for refusing to testify before a federal grand jury convened in Davenport earlier this month. Jarvey reviewed a transcript of the Nov. 20 initial appearance hearing in which the prosecution raised concerns over DeMuth being a flight risk before ordering his release.

The Animal Liberation Front, or ALF, raided the Spence Laboratories and Seashore Hall in November, 2005, according to prosecutors. DeMuth is accused of being involved with the group.

The conditions of DeMuth's release include wearing a GPS unit at all times, be under home detention but allowed to continues studies at the University of Minnesota, permission to travel between Davenport and Minneapolis for court proceedings, surrender his passport and firearm licenses and may not possess any controlled substances or alcohol except with a doctor's order.

 The FBI was called in to investigate the vandalism and break-in. ALF, an underground animal-rights activist group, claimed responsibility for the damage to lab equipment and the release of

88 mice and 313 rats used in psychology department experiments. The break-in was designated as domestic terrorism.