Animal terrorism case set for trial

Brian Wellner
The Quad-City Times
August 23, 2010

A federal jury trial is set for next month in Davenport for a man accused in a 2004 University of Iowa animal lab break-in.

Scott DeMuth appeared in court Monday with his attorney, Michael Deutsch.

He is charged with one felony count of conspiracy in connection with an action that caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage at the University of Iowa.

The Animal Liberation Front, or ALF, action has been designated as a domestic act of terrorism.

At Monday's hearing, Deutsch cited “acts of deceit” by the government, claiming prosecutors have refused to release evidence such as photographs and police reports to the defense.

“I don't know what the government's case is,” he said. “I believe the government can't prove their case.”

Federal prosecutor Cliff Cronk said the government plans to call 60 witnesses to testify during DeMuth's trial, which is scheduled to begin Sept. 13 and last two to three weeks. Judge John Jarvey will preside over the trial.

“This is not going to be a trial by ambush,” Judge Thomas Shields said, referring to the question of whether all exhibits will be presented to both sides before the trial's start. “There won't be surprises.”

DeMuth was previously ordered detained for refusing to testify before the grand jury. He was then indicted in connection with the case and is out on bond while awaiting trial.

Another who refused to testify in connection to the case, Carrie Feldman, was also released from custody earlier this year.

DeMuth could not be reached for comment after Monday's hearing.

Three Homeland Security vans were parked outside the Davenport federal courthouse Monday morning in Davenport in anticipation of the crowd of activists that has gathered at previous hearings for DeMuth and Feldman. A few supporters watched in the courtroom, but there was no crowd outside.

Meanwhile, anti-police flyers from the anarchist group CrimethInc. Ex-Workers' Collective have been found this week in the Quad-Cities.

CrimethInc., which protested the G20 Toronto summit in June, is working with the Animal Liberation Front to drum up support nationally for DeMuth's case, according to its website. A “conspiracy tour” was scheduled to stop in Rock Island on Monday evening, its website states.

“It would not be in Scott DeMuth's best interest to create a bunch of problems in the Quad-Cities,” Sean O'Neal of the U.S. Marshals' Office in Davenport said.