Poultry Farm Protesters Released Pending DA Investigation

PETALUMA, CA – The Sonoma County District Attorney's Office this afternoon said it needs more time to investigate possible charges against members of a grassroots animal rights network who protested at a Petaluma poultry raising farm Saturday afternoon.

Sonoma sheriff's deputies arrested 58 people on suspicion of various offenses including felony burglary and conspiracy and misdemeanor trespassing on the property of McCoy's Poultry Services at 112 Jewett Road.

All but one man and six women posted $2,000 bail and were released from the Sonoma County jail. Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Jamie Thistlethwaite announced the prosecution had not made a filing decision and she released the seven remaining protesters still in custody this afternoon.

Dozens of members of the Berkeley-based Direct Action Everywhere animal rights network, who were dressed in blue T-shirts, erupted in applause and cheers in the courtroom then rallied outside the courthouse.

Direct Action Everywhere spent more than $100,000 to post bail for the protesters who were arrested, spokesman Matt Johnson said.

Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch released a statement shortly after the court hearing.

"Due to the large amount of evidence involved in this investigation, my office has requested additional time to make certain we are able to conduct a complete and accurate review of all available evidence in the case.

"Once we determine what if any violations occurred we intend to file criminal charges. If people have concerns about commercial farming practices there are avenues available to voice those concerns short of
committing criminal acts," Ravitch said.

"We're very happy they declined to file charges. They realized they are between a rock and a hard place," Johnson said.

"There is a system of animal cruelty throughout the county, and a lot of big money keeps them from enforcing the animal cruelty law. We contend it's our right to act," Johnson said.

Johnson said a legal scholar advised the organization that citizens have a legal right to rescue animals from criminal animal cruelty, just as a person has the right to smash the window of a locked vehicle if a child is inside on a hot day.

The sheriff's office responded around 1:30 p.m. Saturday to 911 calls about alleged trespassing at McCoy's Poultry Services. Deputies estimated 150 to 200 protesters were on the roadway and within the poultry
business, sheriff's Lt. Shawn Murphy said in a news release.

Approximately 70 protesters were wearing white full-body protective clothing, and some were carrying chickens they allegedly stole from buildings on the property, Murphy said.

Sonoma County Animal Services took possession of the chickens, and 58 protesters were taken by bus to the Sonoma County jail during the next four hours, Murphy said.

The poultry business owner and an employee also were allegedly assaulted by a protester, according to the sheriff's office.

The activists took a medical tent to the protest to care for chickens suffering from dehydration, broken limbs from being trampled and ammonia burns from standing in waste, according to Direct Action Everywhere.

"We believe we have the legal right to rescue animals and get them medical care they deserve," Wayne Hsiung, co-founder of Direct Action Everywhere, said Saturday. Hsiung was one of the seven protesters in custody this afternoon.

Johnson said a licensed veterinarian was at the protest Saturday to see that biological security protocols were followed when protesters entered buildings on the property.

Johnson said protesters saw dozens of dead chickens at McCoy's Poultry Services and that Sonoma County Animal Services described the birds as "ill and untreatable."

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