Minnesota Man Indicted on Animal Terrorism Charge

Authorities converge on Seashore Hall and Spence Laboratories on the campus of the University of Iowa, after extensive vandalism, including the dumping of chemicals and the release of lab animals, was discovered Sunday, Nov. 14, 2004, in Iowa City, Iowa. Most of the damage was in Spence Labs and in the east wing of Seashore Hall, both of which are home to the psychology department. Because of the extent of damage and the dumping of chemicals, the building and lab were evacuated. (AP Photo/The Gazette, Brian Ray)

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By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Nov 19, 2009 at 1:32 PM CST

Story Updated: Nov 19, 2009 at 6:25 PM CST

DES MOINES (AP) - A Minneapolis man has been indicted on animal terrorism charges in Iowa.

Scott DeMuth is named in an indictment unsealed Thursday that charges him with one count of conspiring to commit animal enterprise terrorism and cause economic damage exceeding $10,000.

The charge comes after DeMuth was found in contempt of court earlier this week for refusing to answer grand jury questions.

The indictment indicates the alleged acts committed by DeMuth occurred between Nov. 9, 2004, and Nov. 20, 2004, in Johnson County.

Grand jury proceedings are secret and the indictment does not specify the alleged incident but during that same period there was a break-in at an animal research lab at the University of Iowa.

An e-mail message left Thursday for DeMuth's attorney, Barbara Nimis, was not immediately returned.

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