Animal-rights activist pleads guilty to contempt charge

By Pamela Manson
The Salt Lake Tribune
Jul 27, 2010

The founder of an animal-rights group pleaded guilty Tuesday to contempt of court for refusing to testify about attacks on mink farms.

Jordan Halliday admitted he disobeyed an order by U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell to testify before a grand jury.

Halliday is slated to be sentenced Oct. 19 by U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart.

A contempt of court offense is unique: It's neither misdemeanor nor felony, and there is no maximum punishment set by law. Stewart has the right to impose whatever sentence he believes is appropriate.

While Halliday was entering his plea inside the federal courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City, a dozen supporters demonstrated quietly in front of the building. Justin Leaming said his friend had been put in an unfair situation where he faced punishment whether or not he made an appearance before the grand jury.

Halliday was indicted last year on the contempt charge, which stemmed from his appearances before a federal grand jury on March 4 and March 13 of 2009. The panel was investigating the release of hundreds of minks at the McMullin farm in South Jordan in August 2008; the release of minks at the Lodder farm in Kaysville in September 2008; and an attempt to damage the operations of the Mathews mink farm in Hyrum in October 2008.

Prosecutors say Halliday either responded with "no comment" to most questions or involved a Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination to innocuous questions.

Two men, Alex Jason Hall and William James Viehl, pleaded guilty to the mink release at the McMullin farm. Hall was sentenced earlier this year to 21 months in prison and Viehl to 24 months.

pmanson@sltrib.com