A Litigation Article from All-Creatures.org

Felony Charge Dropped for Animal Rescuer

From DxE Direct Action Everywhere
May 2024

They dropped the felony conspiracy to commit vandalism charge, reducing the total number of felonies from four down to three.

DxE investigator and animal rescuer Zoe Rosenberg appeared in court for her preliminary hearing in Sonoma County, where she’s facing felony charges for rescuing sick birds from Perdue’s Petaluma Poultry slaughterhouse last June. Sonoma County District Attorneys Robert Blade and Matthew Hobson presented evidence in the hopes of convincing the judge that the charges they filed against Zoe and another defendant should proceed to trial.

The prosecution called two witnesses, an officer and a detective with the Petaluma Police Department. The defense attorneys questioned them about how Zoe reported evidence of animal cruelty at Petaluma Poultry to their office prior to the rescue and how the police ignored these reports. They also asked questions that made it clear the witnesses were missing key information and could not really tell who did what on the low quality surveillance footage from that night in June. Vincent and Petunia, two chickens who were rescued from a Petaluma Poultry factory farm, were discussed by name by both sides, and both sides referred to these acts as rescues on multiple occasions. This reiterates what we have learned in past cases: Acts of open rescue can change the narrative around who animals really are and the rights they deserve.

At the conclusion of the hearing, the defense attorneys successfully argued that there was no evidence presented of a conspiracy to commit vandalism or any involvement in any vandalism, and the prosecutors had to agree. They dropped the felony conspiracy to commit vandalism charge, reducing the total number of felonies from four down to three. The judge said she will take some time to consider all the evidence presented and scheduled a hearing for May 13, where she will give her ruling as to whether there is probable cause to pursue the remaining charges.

Animal rights activist Zoe Rosenberg, right, pauses with her attorney Chris Carraway to take a group photo with other members of Direct Action Everywhere outside the Sonoma County Superior Courthouse before her preliminary hearing in Santa Rosa, Friday, May 3, 2024. (Chad Surmick / The Press Democrat)

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