Two animal rights activists have been found not guilty after they were accused of taking two piglets from a Utah farm and filming the conditions inside.
Paul Darwin Picklesimer and Wayne Hsiung were acquitted of felony burglary and theft charges .
In March of 2017, Picklesimer and Hsiung allegedly entered Circle Four Farms in Milford, Beaver County. The farm was owned by Smithfield Foods, a subsidiary of China’s WH Group.
Picklesimer and Hsiung reportedly documented conditions in the farm with virtual reality video and took two piglets that they said were sick.
“I don’t actually want you to acquit us on a legal technicality,” said Hsiung, who represented himself at trial, in his closing remarks to jurors Friday evening. “I want you to acquit us as a matter of conscience. There’s a big difference between stealing and rescue.”
In a press release, the organization said over 150 supporters gathered outside of the courthouse in Washington County and celebrated the verdict in what they called a landmark animal rights case.
In 2018, three other activists charged in the case accepted a conditional dismissal, which involved three years of probation and a gag order.
Smithfield’s Statement:
This verdict is very disappointing as it may encourage anyone opposed to raising animals for food to vandalize farms.
Following this 2017 incident, we immediately launched an investigation and completed a third-party audit after learning of alleged mistreatment of animals on a company-owned hog farm in Milford, Utah. The audit results showed no findings of animal mistreatment.
Those involved in this incident claim to be animal care advocates. They risked the lives of the animals they stole and the lives of the animals living on our farms by trespassing and violating our strict biosecurity policy that prevents the spread of disease.
The individuals who committed this act are part of an anti-meat movement determined to undermine livestock agriculture. We raise pigs to feed people with wholesome, nutritious and affordable protein. Any deviation from our high standards for animal care is counterproductive to this mission and would never be tolerated. From the farm to our processing facilities, we continue to uphold our steadfast commitment to the safety, health and comfort of our animals through biosecurity, regular veterinary care, and safe, comfortable housing through every stage of our animals’ lives.
