In an incredible legal victory for animal rights activists and a stunning rebuke of the State’s (Multnomah County District Attorneys) willingness to grossly overcharge, CLDC is thrilled to share the resounding trial win for our client who was acquitted of all charges today! At the close of the State’s case yesterday, Judge Thomas Ryan granted the defense team’s motions for judgment of acquittal on the three most serious charges–felony charges of burglary in the 2^nd degree, criminal mischief in the 1^st degree, and menacing, citing even in the light most favorable to the State, there was insufficient evidence to support the felony and menacing charges. That left misdemeanor charges of criminal trespass and disorderly conduct. The Court then also granted defendant’s use of the necessity defense as to the trespass charge.  After over four hours of deliberations, today a jury of 12 found our client not guilty of both charges—a full acquittal of all five charges!!

The case stems from an anti-fur office protest in which approximately 50 animal rights activists engaged in a corporate office demonstration drawing attention to the repugnant killing of animals for fur in the fashion industry by focusing their attention on Hanna Anderson, a subsidiary of the world’s largest purveyors of fur, Arnault luxury brands.

CLDC would like to deeply thank Lauren Regan’s co-counsel in this case, Chris Carraway of the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project, a law clinic of Sturm College of Law in Denver, Colorado.

In an embarrassing example of the State run amok, a jury of 12 deliberated and acquitted on the misdemeanor charges, normally this would be a jury of 6. Congratulations to Lauren Regan, Chris Callaway, and CLDC’s client who will undoubtedly sleep very well tonight.