SALT LAKE CITY - There was a lot of contention in federal court Thursday over whether Walter Bond rose to the level of a "serial arsonist."

But U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart didn't seem that confused before sentencing the 35-year-old to more than seven years in prison - 12 considering that Stewart ordered the sentence to run consecutive with a five-year sentence handed down for arson in Colorado.

"I will be the first to admit that I am a serial arsonist," the judge said, quoting something Bond wrote in February. "He does take pride (in what he's done). The court is concerned this defendant will never have respect for the law."

Bond pleaded guilty to felony counts of arson and violence involving animal enterprises in July.

A member of the Animal Liberation Front with the nickname "Lone Wolf," Bond is accused of setting fire to the Tandy Leather Factory at 1107 S. State in June 2010 and Tiburon Fine Dining, 8256 S. 700 East, a month later. The fires caused $20,000 and $500,000 in damage, respectively.

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full story:
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705392489/Serial-arsonist-animal-rights-activist-ordered-to-prison.html

Walter Bond Sentenced to 7 years for Two ALF Arsons
Walter Bond unapologetic at Utah sentencing, receives 7 years for two Animal Liberation Front arsons


Today, Walter Bond was sentenced in Salt Lake City to an additional 87 months for two more Animal Liberation Front arsons, to run consecutive to his current 5-year sentence. Altogether, Bond will serve 12 years for setting fire to three animal abuse targets:

Sheepskin Factory
Denver, Colorado
Set on fire April 30th
$500,000 damages.

The Tandy Leather Factory
Salt Lake City, Utah
Set on fire June 5, 2010
Less than $20,000 damages.

Tiburon
Sandy, Utah
Set on fire July 2, 2010
Approx. $80,000 in damages.

A few notes from those who were present:

*Approximately 10 supporters were in attendance at the hearing.
*Someone associated with Tiburon testified they sustained $80K in damages, a much greater amount than previously reported.
*Walter was said to be relaxed and smiling at his supporters.

Bond was indicted by a federal grand jury after admitting to his brother that he set the fires. The conversation was secretly recorded as part of an ATF sting, and Bond was subsequently arrested and charged with all three of the ALF �Lone Wolf�-claimed arsons.

Bond remained unapologetic at his sentencing. When asked if he had any final words to the court before being sentenced, he made the following statement:

Walter Bond�s Statement to the Court in Utah

�I�m here today because of the arsons I committed at the Tandy Leather Factory in Salt Lake City and the Tiburon restaurant in Sandy, Utah, which sells the incredibly cruel product foie gras. The U.S. attorney wants to give me the maximum sentence and beyond not because of my �crimes� but because I am unrepentant and outspoken. My intuition tells me that this court is not going to show me mercy because I become suddenly sorry. So instead of lying to the court in a feeble attempt to save myself, as I�m certain many do when they face their sentencing day, allow me instead to tell you what I am sorry for.

I am sorry that when I was 19 years old I built two slaughterhouses that are still killing animals even now as I speak. I am sorry that Tandy Leather sells skin that has been ripped from the dead, and often live bodies of such animals as cows, ostriches, rabbits, snakes and pigs. I am sorry that the leather tanneries that supply Tandy Leather Factory poison the Earth with dangerous chemicals. I am sorry that the restaurant Tiburon profits from the force feeding of geese and ducks until their livers explode so that rich people can then use that as a pate for crackers and bread. I am sorry that they make a living from the dead bodies of wild and exotic animals. I am sorry that we live in a day and age where you can rape a child or beat a woman unconscious and receive less prison time than an animal liberation activist that attacked property instead of people.

I am sorry that my brother was so desperate to get out of debt that he flew from Iowa to Colorado just to get me in a taped and monitored conversation for reward money. I am sorry I am biologically related to such a worthless little snitch. I am sorry that I waited so long to become an Animal Liberation Front operative. For all of these things I will always have some regret. But as far as the arsons at the Leather Factory and Tiburon, I have no remorse.

I realize that the laws of the land favor a businesses ability to make a profit over an animals right to life. It also used to favor white business owners ability to profit from a black persons slavery. It also used to favor a husbands ability to viciously attack his wife and act on her as if she were an object. Those who broke the law and damaged property to stand against those oppressions were also called �terrorists� and �fanatics� in their time but that did not change the fact that society progressed and is still progressing along those lines.

So today I�m the bad guy. That is just a matter of historical coincidence. Who knows, perhaps a less brutal and less violent society will one day exist that will understand that life and Earth are more important that products of death and cruelty. And if not then to hell with it all anyway! Weather my supporters or detractors think I am a freedom fighter or a lunatic with a gas can makes no difference to me. I have spent years verifiably promoting, supporting and fighting for Animal Liberation. I have seen the animal victims of human injustice, thousands of them with my own eyes and what I saw was blood, guts and gore! I made a promise to those animals and to myself to fight for them in anyway I could. I regret none of it, and I never will!

You can take my freedom, but you can�t have my submission.

Walter Bond
A.L.F. � P.O.W.
X Lone V Wolf X�

www.supportwalter.org

Until he is moved to a federal prison, Bond can receive letters of support at:

Walter Edmund Bond


Davis County Jail
Walter Bond 2011-03339
PO Box 130
Farmington UT 84025-0130

- Peter Young

Today, Walter Bond was sentenced in Salt Lake City to an additional 87 months for two more Animal Liberation Front arsons, to run consecutively to his current 5-year sentence. Altogether, Bond has been sentenced to 12 years for setting fire to a sheepskin factory a leather factory, and a foie gras restaurant. He was convicted upon confessing his deeds to his brother who was bribed to record the conversation.

When asked if he had any final words to the court before being sentenced, Bond made the following statement (quoted in part):

�... The U.S. attorney wants to give me the maximum sentence and beyond not because of my �crimes� but because I am unrepentant and outspoken. My intuition tells me that this court is not going to show me mercy because I become suddenly sorry. So instead of lying to the court in a feeble attempt to save myself, as I�m certain many do when they face their sentencing day, allow me instead to tell you what I am sorry for.

"... I am sorry that Tandy Leather sells skin that has been ripped from the dead, and often live bodies of such animals as cows, ostriches, rabbits, snakes and pigs. I am sorry that the leather tanneries that supply Tandy Leather Factory poison the Earth with dangerous chemicals. I am sorry that the restaurant Tiburon profits from the force feeding of geese and ducks until their livers explode so that rich people can then use that as a pate for crackers and bread.

"... I am sorry that we live in a day and age where you can rape a child or beat a woman unconscious and receive less prison time than an animal liberation activist who attacked property instead of people... I am sorry that I waited so long to become an Animal Liberation Front operative.

"... I realize that the laws of the land favor a business' ability to make a profit over an animal's right to life. It also used to favor white business owner's ability to profit from a black person's slavery. It also used to favor a husband's ability to viciously attack his wife and act on her as if she were an object. Those who broke the law and damaged property to stand against those oppressions were also called �terrorists� and �fanatics� in their time but that did not change the fact that society progressed and is still progressing along those lines.

"... Perhaps a less brutal and less violent society will one day exist that will understand that life and Earth are more important than products of death and cruelty... I have spent years verifiably promoting, supporting and fighting for Animal Liberation. I have seen the animal victims of human injustice, thousands of them, with my own eyes, and what I saw was blood, guts and gore! I made a promise to those animals and to myself to fight for them in any way I could. I regret none of it, and I never will!"

Until he is moved to a federal prison, Bond can receive letters of support at:
Walter Edmund Bond
Davis County Jail
Walter Bond 2011-03339
PO Box 130
Farmington UT 84025-0130