{"article":{"id":262890,"heading":"Activist Sentenced to 2.5 Years for Wire Cutters","author":"Frontline","created":"2014-01-21 17:29:10","modified":"2014-01-22 18:11:10","last_modified":"Thu, 23 Jan 2014 01:11:10","article":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><p><strong>Los Angeles activist Kevin Olliff receives 30 month sentence for possessing fur farm \"burglary tools\".<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><strong>From Animal Liberation Frontline<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>Tuesday,  Kevin Olliff accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to 2.5 years in  Illinois prison. The only allegation against him was possessing tools  the prosecution claimed were intended to be used to \"burglarize\" a fox  farm.<\/p>\r\n<p>With credit for time served, and Illinois' \"half time\" credit, Kevin is expected to be released in 10 months.<\/p>\r\n<p>This  is a significantly harsher sentence than the one received by  co-defendant Tyler Lang, who received a sentence of time served and was  released in November. It has been speculated Kevin's history of arrests  for animal rights activity made him a more appetizing target for the  prosecution, translating to a longer sentence (Kevin served time in  California on \"stalking\" charges for his role in the successful campaign against POM Wonderful).<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>Background<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>Tyler  Lang and Kevin Olliff are two Los Angeles animal rights activists who  were arrested in rural Illinois in August for &ldquo;possession of burglary  tools.&rdquo; After a traffic stop in which they refused consent to a police  search, their car was searched anyway. Inside, police allege they found  bolt cutters, wire cutters, muriatic acid, ski masks, and cammo  clothing. Prosecutor's allege the items found were intended to be used  to target a nearby fur farm.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>A case that moved from generic burglary to animal liberation <\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>The case had numerous turns, including the prosecution claiming to have a neighbors surveillance footage from a mink farm raid that happened elsewhere in Illinois the night before his arrest (along with Tyler Lang).<\/p>\r\n<p>While  it was clear from day one the prosecution was using their history as  animal rights activists against Tyler and Kevin, it wasn't until more  recently this became explicit.<\/p>\r\n<p>First, the prosecutor stated his  intention to use the Morris, Illinois mink release (which occurred the  night before their arrest) to build a circumstantial case that Kevin  Olliff intended to use the items found in his car to target a fur farm.<\/p>\r\n<p>Later, the prosecutor named a specific fur farm he believed Kevin and Tyler intended to target the night of their arrest.<\/p>\r\n<p>In the end, the government made it explicit: They intended to try Kevin Olliff for a full-blown conspiracy to raid a fur farm.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>Government desperate for an arrest<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>The  last six months of 2013 saw 10 fur farm raids and not a single arrest.  It's clear the government took a special interest in Kevin and Tyler&nbsp; in  the absence of their ability to catch the ALF. Despite nearly all of  the fur farm raids occurring after their arrest, the government appeared  willing to settle for something symbolic (arresting animal rights  activists at night in the rural Midwest) vs. actual success apprehending  the Animal Liberation Front.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>Transported to prison<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>Kevin  was taken from Woodford County Jail almost immediately after his  sentencing, and transferred to a reception facility in Joliet. He is  expected to stay there for a month, before being transported to an  actual prison. During this next month, his ability to make phone calls  is limited, though he can receive (but not send) mail. His new address  will be posted as soon as it is known.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>What you can do<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>This  outcome, while not ideal, would not have been possible without the  legal maneuvering of Kevin's legal team, a group of hard working  activist attorneys from Chicago (and one Woodford County attorney).  Kevin's support fund is still badly overdrawn from legal fees, and  several thousand more dollars are needed to pay the attorneys.<\/p>\r\n<p>Please consider organizing a fundraiser for Kevin, or donating directly to his legal defense.<\/p>\r\n<p>Donate here. <\/p>\r\n<p>Check the <strong>Support Kevin &amp; Tyler site<\/strong> for frequent updates, to donate, and all the latest.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","contact":"","link":"http:\/\/www.animalliberationfrontline.com\/","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/html","summary":"Los Angeles activist Kevin Olliff receives 30 month sentence in Illinois for possessing fur farm &quot;burglary tools&quot;.","numcomment":1,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2014\/01\/262890.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[]}