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The animals were released from Richard H. Stahl Sons Inc. farm in Sunbury, according to a news release from Fur Commission USA.
Two Massachusetts residents were arrested on Saturday, Oct. 19 for what Fur Commission USA called an act of terrorism.
Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Public Information Officer Sara Barrett confirmed to Daily Voice that several hundred mink were released in this incident and that two suspects were arrested.
"These animal extremists are terrorists, plain and simple," the Fur Commission USA said in a news release. "As defined by the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA), any person who engages in certain conduct for the purpose of damaging or interfering with the operations of an animal enterprise is a terrorist in the eyes of the law."
Cara Mitrano, 27, of Worcester, Massachusetts, and Christopher Legere, 25, of Brighton, Massachusetts were arrested on charges of:
- Felony Agricultural Vandalism.
- Felony Criminal Mischief - Damage Property.
- Felony Theft by Unlawful Taking - Movable Property.
- Felony Burglary - Not Adapted for Overnight Accommodation, Person Present.
- Misdemeanor Cruelty to Animals.
- Misdemeanor Defiant Trespass Posted-Purple Marks.
- Conspire in Unwarranted Detention.
Mitrano and Legere are both being held in Northumberland County Jail on $150,000 bail each, according to court documents. Preliminary arraignment was scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 19. No other court dates were listed at the time of publication.
In response to the incident, Fur Commission USA has increased its reward for information leading to arrests of animal activists responsible for these kinds of incidents from $5,000 to $16,000, the organization said.
Likewise, Richard H. Stahl Sons Inc. is offering a $5,000 reward, complemented by a $1,000 contribution from The Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania, bringing the total reward to $22,000.
These kinds of crimes can actually hurt the animals activists are attempting to save, according to Fur Commission USA.
"Releasing animals raised in human care who have minimal survival skills into the wild demonstrates ignorance and a wanton disregard for their lives, leading to starvation, predation and, in many cases, being killed by cars," the organization said.
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