WASHINGTON COUNTY, Utah — Two animal activists accused of breaking into a factory farm in 2018 near Milford, Utah, and stealing two pigs have been found not guilty in a unanimous jury decision.
Judge Jeffrey Wilcox announced the unanimous decision to acquit Paul Darwin Picklesimer and Wayne Hsiung on charges of felony burglary and theft.
Picklesimer and Hsiung are part of the animal welfare organization "Direct Action Everywhere."
Picklesimer told FOX 13 in 2018 that he and Hsiung took the pigs and posted videos of the factory to "show what's happening there in the hopes it resonates with people."
The piglets were taken from the largest pig farm in the nation, owned by Smithfield Foods, a subsidiary of China’s WH Group.
Each defendant faced up to five years in prison if convicted.
Hsiung, a former Northwestern Law University visiting professor, represented himself at the trial, asking in his closing remarks to the jury to "acquit us as a matter of conscience," adding that "there's a big difference between stealing and rescue."
The pig rescue occurred during a Direct Action Everywhere investigation into the use of gestation grates by Smithfield.
Video of the rescue was previously barred because it might arouse "horror" in the jury, an action the activists claimed violated their constitutional rights.
On October 10, Smithfield Foods released a statement from Jim Monroe, Smithfield Foods’ vice president of corporate affairs:
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.
