Scott Demuth Has Been Released

July 29, 2011 davenportgrandjury

We're excited to let you all know that Scott was released earlier today and is
on a bus heading back home to Minneapolis! His prison sentence is now complete
and he's excited to be coming home. While he still has a year of supervised
release ahead of him, he'll once again be with his family, friends, comrades,
and loved ones here in the Twin Cities.

We'd also like to thank all of you for the tremendous amount of support you've
shown him and Carrie Feldman from the beginning of this ordeal, when Carrie was
subpoenaed to the grand jury in Davenport, IA in late 2009. Since then, you've
supported both Carrie and Scott while they were in jail or prison, helped us
raise the much-needed funds for their legal defenses, helped spread the word
about their cases and other Green Scare cases, and shown the power of our
solidarity in the face of state repression.

Scott no longer needs the same kinds of support he needed while he was in
prison, but there are plenty of other political prisoners and prisoners of war
who need our support. We encourage everyone to reach out to other prisoners to
help them through their ordeals. If you're around the Twin Cities this weekend,
we also invite you to a welcome-home gathering for Scott:

* When: Sunday, Aug. 31st, 2pm-??
* Where: Lake Calhoun, south beach
* What: Swimming, potluck, fun!

If you're not in the area and would like to send Scott some letters of support
for his transition back home, you can send them to:

Scott DeMuth
c/o Coldsnap Legal Collective
P.O. Box 50514
Mpls, MN 55405

With love and solidarity,

the Scott and Carrie Support Committe (SCSC)
http://davenportgrandjury.wordpress.com

Scott DeMuth Lands in Michigan, Ready for Mail

May 12, 2011 Davenport Grand Jury

May 12 - Scott DeMuth has been moved yet again, to the minimum security
federal prison in Milan, MI. We think this is likely to be where he'll be
for a while, possibly until his release date of July 30. Please send him
some mail; he could use the support, especially after all of this being
moved around! If you wrote him a letter at one of his previous locations
and it got sent back to you, feel free to resend it or just send him a new
one.

His new address for letters, books and magazine subscriptions is:

Scott DeMuth #11246-030
FCI Milan
Federal Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 1000,
Milan, MI 48160

If you would like to send a letter, use the address and register number
above. You must include a return address on the envelope. Remember that
all letters are opened and inspected - your letter will be read by prison
officials, so be smart about what you say.

Books must be sent through the US Postal Service. New books can be sent
directly from the publisher or an online bookstore. Scott can also get
used paperback books and magazines at his new place! To send a used book
or magazine, enclose it in a manila envelope marked “Prison Approved
Material: 1 book” (or whatever is enclosed).

Scott put together a shiny new book list, and we put it up here:
http://davenportgrandjury.wordpress.com/book-list/

Books and magazine subscriptions must be addressed using Scott’s full
information above, including the inmate number. The Bureau of Prisons
website notes that publications should not be “detrimental to the
security, discipline, or good order of the institution, or facilitate
criminal activity.” And you know how important all of that is!

Thanks for all of your support, everybody. We and Scott appreciate it so!

In solidarity,
the Scott and Carrie Support Committee (SCSC)

For more background on Scott and his case, visit
http://davenportgrandjury.wordpress.com.

Scott DeMuth got moved; new mailing address

March 21, 2011 Davenport Grand Jury

Scott has been moved to a transitional facility in Leavenworth, Kansas.
This is apparently a private facility and not connected to the Prisons at
Leavenworth; those facilities have no record of him at this time. He is
likely to be moved at least one more time before the end of his term;
please update your mailing addresses accordingly, resend any mail that was
recently sent and returned, and keep an eye out for further updates from
us.

Scott’s new mailing address is as follows:

Scott DeMuth #11246-030
c/o Leavenworth Detention Center
100 Highway Terrace
Leavenworth, KS 66048

At his new prison, he’s in complete lockdown for 22 hours a day. Every
other day he gets let out of the cell for meals. He does have a cellmate,
who he describes as a good guy, but his wheelchair takes up most of the
space so there’s not really any room to stretch or work out. There is,
however, a window in his cell, which he’s extremely happy about.

And unlike the last place he was in, he can get books and pictures! Read
the mailing regulations for details:

“Envelopes with mail must include the inmate’s name and federal register
number. Those without a number will be returned to sender. Inmates may
receive photographs, but they must not show any nudity, penetration,
crime, gang signs, drugs or drug usage. Stamps, blank paper, envelopes,
blank cards, self-addressed stamped envelopes, calling cards, credit
cards, stickers of any kind, cards with sound and fake cash are not
accepted and should not be mailed in. All publications must be sent
directly from a nationally recognized publisher or book store. Receipts
must accompany all books/magazines mailed into the facility. No used
books/magazines will be allowed. No more than three books and/or magazines
may be received in any one shipment. These rules are meant to be
representative, not all-encompassing. For more specific information, you
may call (913) 680-6860, (913) 727-3246 or (913) 680-6804.”

Thanks so much for all of your support so far, and please keep it coming!

In solidarity,
the Scott and Carrie Support Committee

Update on Scott DeMuth and why he needs a letter from you!

Feb. 15, 2011 Davenport Grand Jury

We were able to hear from Scott earlier this evening and have some updates
on his situation to share with you. After he was booked last night, he was
put into a holding cell with 12 other people but only 2 beds. He was stuck
there until about 6pm today, when he was finally moved to a temporary
housing unit. Now he’s sharing a cell area with about 4 other people and
has his own bed.

He doesn’t think he’ll be able to go to the library because he’s in a
temporary housing unit. He also doesn’t think he’ll be able to access his
commissary account until Tuesday, Feb. 22 to buy paper, pens and
envelopes.

Since we can’t send him books and he can’t go to the library, our letters
are especially important. If you haven’t already, please take a moment to
write him a note of support. You can send letters to him at:

Scott DeMuth
Polk County Jail
1985 – NE 51st Place
Des Moines, IA 50313-2517

Remember the mail restrictions: All mail must have the sender’s full name
and return address on the envelope (no PO Boxes) or it will get rejected.
No books, periodicals or packages are allowed.

Since Scott in only allowed 5 photos, please do not send him any. His
family will be sending him some soon.

Scott DeMuth sentenced to six months, taken into custody today

From Davenport Grand Jury

Scott’s (temporary) mailing address

We’ve heard from Scott, who is currently in the Polk County Jail, a
facility often used in Iowa for federal inmates awaiting transfer to
whatever prison they’re going to go to. He’s going to get moved, although
we’re not sure yet where or when. We will be sending updates as we get
them. If you send Scott mail and it gets returned, resend it to his next
address!

Right now, his address is at:

Scott DeMuth
Polk County Jail
1985 – NE 51st Place
Des Moines, IA 50313-2517

All mail must have the sender’s full name and return address on the
envelope (no PO Boxes) or it will get rejected. No books, periodicals or
packages are allowed.

Scott is only allowed to have 5 photos in his possession. No photos larger
than 4×6, Polaroids, photo collages, “photos printed on stationery paper,”
or electronic cards.



From Davenport Grand Jury

This afternoon, family, friends and supporters gathered to show support
for Scott DeMuth as he was sentenced in federal court in Davenport, Iowa.
Scott was sentenced to six months imprisonment, and taken immediately into
custody. We will be posting information on how to send him mail as soon as
his location is confirmed.

Scott pleaded guilty in September to conspiracy to commit animal
enterprise terrorism in violation of the Animal Enterprise Protection
Act--a misdemeanor--for an animal liberation that took place in Minnesota
in 2006.

At issue in court was the possibility of restitution. The plea agreement
made no mention of restitution, but the pre sentence report suggested that
he pay over $20,000 to cover damages incurred by the farm going out of
business--despite the fact that it didn't go out of business until months
later. It is not actually legal to consider projected earnings in
restitution, and the prosecutor conceded that the actual damages were well
under $10,000. He cited a recent letter from farm owner Latzig in which he
claimed to have lost approximately 30 ferrets, at a cost of $75 per female
and $125 per male. This conflicts with the numbers given by Latzig in the
initial police report, when he claimed to have recovered all but ten of
his ferrets, valued at $40 each.

In the end, arguments over the amount of restitution became moot when
Judge Jarvey conceded that restitution could not be imposed because it had
not been mentioned during the plea agreement proceedings. He seemed
displeased with this outcome, and suggested that if Scott were truly
remorseful he would offer willingly to pay restitution to the farm owner.

The plea agreement made explicit that Scott would be sentenced to no less
than six months, but defense attorney Michael Deutsch requested that Scott
serve this time in either the halfway house or on house arrest. He cited
the five years since the liberation during which Scott has remained law
abiding, the numerous character letters written on his behalf, and the
space and resources that would be wasted on his incarceration.

In a surprising turn, federal judge John Jarvey ordered Scott be taken
into custody immediately at the sentencing. This is virtually unheard of
for a misdemeanor charge in which the defendant clearly poses no flight
risk or danger to the community. This decision was clearly motivated by a
desire by the judge to further punish Scott based on the political nature
of the crime, not by any legal precedent or safety concern.

Scott is currently being transferred to a local county jail to await his
placement in a federal prison. Information on how to send him books,
commissary money and letters will be posted as soon as his location is
confirmed.

For now, money for Scott's commissary can be sent to EWOK!, c/o Coldsnap
Legal Collective, p.o. box 50514 Minneapolis, MN 55405, or can be donated
online via the Paypal button on our website,
http://davenportgrandjury.wordpress.com.

Thank you to everyone who has supported Scott through this process.
Despite the stress caused by repeated postponement on his sentencing and
now the surprising turn regarding his incarceration, Scott has taken this
situation in his usual stride.

Please look out for announcements regarding how to write to Scott, and
continue to show support while he serves his time in federal prison.

With love and rage,
The Scott and Carrie Support Committee

http://davenportgrandjury.wordpress.com

Scott DeMuth's Sentencing on Monday, Feb. 14th

Scott DeMuth to be Sentenced to Six Months for 2006 Animal Liberation Action
Help Us Pack the Courtroom in Davenport, IA on Feb. 14th!

After having been postponed several times, every indication from the
court suggests that Scott's sentencing will actually take place on
Monday, February 14th at 1:30pm at the federal courthouse in Davenport, IA.

As you remember, Scott accepted a non-cooperating plea agreement on
Monday, September 13, 2010 to one count of misdemeanor conspiracy to
commit animal enterprise terrorism under the Animal Enterprise
Protection Act for his role in the April 29, 2006 ALF raid on
Lakeside Ferrets, Inc., in Howard Lake, Minnesota. The plea was to a
lesser included charge of the second superseding indictment, which was
for a felony charge.

The postponements in his sentencing have put him, his family, his loved
ones and his supporters through quite a bit of turmoil, as everyone has
been unsure of when he will have to serve his time. The scheduling
problems and other pre-sentencing hassles have also led to Scott not
being able to know important details about his sentence, such as where
he will be incarcerated, until the morning of his sentencing.

The government's clear lack of concern for Scott's well-being makes our
support and solidarity more important than ever. We hope you'll be able
to join us in the courtroom to support Scott in this difficult time.

* When: Monday, February 14, 1:30pm
* Where: Federal Courthouse, 131 E. Fourth St., Davenport, IA

A picture ID is required to enter the courthouse, and cell phones are
not permitted. Appropriate dress would be greatly appreciated.

In solidarity,

the Scott and Carrie Support Committee (SCSC)
http://davenportgrandjury.wordpress.com