Minn. man pleads guilty to animal terrorism charge

By MICHAEL J. CRUMB, Associated Press Writer

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A man accused of a break-in at a ferret farm in Minnesota pleaded guilty late Monday, the day before he was set to go to trial on federal conspiracy charges.

Scott DeMuth, 23, of Minneapolis, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Davenport to conspiracy to commit animal enterprise terrorism for the April 2006 release of ferrets from Lakeside Ferrets Inc., which breeds ferrets and sells them to stores. He admitted to conspiring with others to disrupt and cause damage to the Howard Lake, Minn., business.

He faces up to six months in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. A sentencing date hasn't been set.

DeMuth also was accused of involvement in a break-in at a University of Iowa animal lab. That was not part of the plea agreement.

The U.S. attorney's office declined comment on the issue Monday night, and an e-mail message left for DeMuth's attorney was not immediately returned.

Court records show owner of Lakeside Ferrets, Eugene Lazig, found animals had been freed from their cages and holes cut in the perimeter fence around the housing units. Breeding cards used to record activity in the cages had also been destroyed and a net used to catch the ferrets had been torn, records show.

Footprints were found in the area and notice was received from the animal rights activist group Animal Liberation Front taking responsibility for the incident.

Court records also show a search of DeMuth's computer hard drive showed searches of animal enterprises in Utah and Minnesota, including the Lazig ferret operation and the communique from the ALF about the incident.

During the break-in at Spence Laboratories at the University of Iowa, vandals released pigeons and more than 300 rats and mice. They also dumped chemicals on data, damaged about 40 computers and publicized the home addresses of several researchers.

Damage was estimated at $500,000. An e-mail sent by someone claiming to be from the Animal Liberation Front claimed responsibility for the break-in.

DeMuth is a member of EWOK! - "Earth Warriors Are OK!" - a Minneapolis group whose members describe themselves as advocates for animal rights and environmental activists who face criminal charges.

DeMuth, a self-described anarchist, has denied any involvement in the break-in and told The Associated Press in an interview last fall that he believed he was targeted because he knows underground animal rights activists and has unpopular political views.

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