Animal Activists Federal Terror Charges Tossed

A federal judge has dismissed charges against four animal rights activists charged with violating a rarely used anti-terrorism law while protesting at University of California scientists' homes.
 
U.S. District Judge Ronald M. Whyte on Monday tossed out the indictments against Maryam Khajavi of Pinole, Joseph Buddenberg of Berkeley, Adriana Stumpo of Long Beach and Nathan Pope of Oceanside.
 
The judge says the charges against them were not specific enough.
 
The four were charged under the federal Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act for allegedly using force, violence or threats to interfere with animal research.
 
Prosecutors said they participated in threatening demonstrations in early 2009 at the homes of UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz scientists whose research involves animals.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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