Former Animal Liberation Subversives to Testify Against Ex-comrades in Exchange for Leniency

Four people formerly active in the violent direct action wing of the animal and environment liberation struggle have turned state's evidence against their former comrades in exchange for lighter sentences.

According to a June 4 press release from the North American Animal Liberation Press Office (NAALPO), all four have confessed to a series of arsons in the region "on behalf of animals and the environment."

One of them, Darren Thurston, was sentenced on May 29 to 37 months behind bars. Assistant US Attorney Stephen Peiffer cited Thurston's extensive cooperation with the authorities as justification for the light sentence, according to the press release. Peiffer claims that Thurston had only a minor role in the arsons and sought only to free horses present and to support his girlfriend, fellow informant Chelsea Gerlach. He provided the authorities with data on a "whole array of activities and other people," more than was even required for the current investigation. Stan Meyerhoff and Kevin Tubbs have also recently turned states' evidence in the case.

Appearing before U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken, both the informants' defense lawyers and the prosecutors said that they feared that Meyerhoff, Tubbs, Gerlach, and Thurston would all fall victim to sexual abuse and other violence in prison because of their status as "snitches" unless they were afforded protective custody.

Aiken said that she will write to prison officials to try to ensure the informants' safety. According to the NAALPO's press release, Paul Solomon, director of men's services at a post-incarceration support service provider in Eugene, Ore., said that "snitches" are second only to child molesters as prime targets for abuse by other prisoners.

Meyerhoff, Tubbs, and Gerlach were also sentenced during the last week of May. Meyerhoff was sentenced to 13 years in prison, Tubbs, to 12 years and seven months, and Gerlach, to nine years. All three had entered guilty pleas and had agreed to testify against their ex-comrades as well as provide additional evidence.