Animal activist makes first appearance in federal arson cases (DUer?)

[Omaha Steve]

Don't we have a Lone Wolf DUer?

By Melinda Rogers
The Salt Lake Tribune
April 13, 2011

A Salt Lake City animal rights activist known as “Lone Wolf” made his first appearance in federal court on Wednesday in connection with allegedly setting fire to a leather factory and restaurant in Salt Lake County last summer. A federal grand jury indicted Walter Bond, 35, in September with two counts of felony arson and two counts of force, violence and threats involving animal enterprises.

U.S. Magistrate Brooke C. Wells appointed a public defender to represent Bond, who pleaded not guilty to the charges on Wednesday. A trial was set for June before Judge Ted Stewart.

Bond’s appearance in Salt Lake City’s federal court follows a similar case in Colorado, where he pleaded guilty to burning down a Sheepskin Factory near Denver. He is currently serving five years in prison for that crime. In the Colorado case, Bond admitted to burning down the factory, which specializes in sheepskin products such as shoes, rugs and seat covers. He caused about $500,000 to the business when he set it ablaze on April 30.

Bond later returned to Utah, where he allegedly set fire at the Tandy Leather Factory in Salt Lake City on June 5 and Tiburon Fine Dining in Sandy on July 2, according to the indictment. Bond’s arson in Denver led investigators to his actions in Salt Lake City.

According to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Denver, someone using the nickname “ALF Lone Wolf” in an Internet posting suggested the fires in Colorado and Utah had been set in retaliation for animal cruelty.

“Be warned that making a living from the use and abuse of animals will not be tolerated,” ALF Lone Wolf wrote in the aftermath of the Sheepskin Factory fire. “Also be warned that leather is every bit as evil as fur, as demonstrated in my recent arson against the Leather Factory in Salt Lake City. Go vegan!”

Tiburon owner Ken Rose has said he hopes authorities “throw the proverbial book” at Bond. His restaurant sustained about $10,000 in damage from the fire, while the blaze at the Tandy Leather Factory resulted in less than $20,000 in damage, according to court documents.

Bond faces up to 20 years in prison for each of the two arson counts in Utah and up to five years for each count of threatening animal enterprises.

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[saras]

1. hmmm...

arson is arson, but it seems stupid that the have a special law "threatening animal enterprises". Why the special treatment?

[Raine]

2. I support animal activism but I still

have to say that was an extremely stupid thing to do. :-(

[leftstreet]

3. wtf? "threatening animal enterprises" ??

When is arson not just arson?

:shrug:

[Omaha Steve]

4. I wonder if they have a "threatening animal" law?

That would seem fair.