Activists accused of Wegmans farm burglary

In case anyone missed this in the D & C, here it is along with info on a protest on Saturday, August 3rd.! ---------- Corydon Ireland Staff writer (August 5, 2005) — Arrest warrants were issued Thursday for two animal rights activists who last year broke into the Wegmans Egg Farm in Wayne County and this July released a graphic documentary of conditions at the 750,000-hen facility. <!--break--> <p>Both are members of the local group Compassionate Consumers and will be arraigned at noon today in Wolcott Town Court, according to their defense attorney, Donald Thompson of Rochester.</p><p>Charged with third-degree burglary, a felony, are Adam Durand, 25, and Melanie Ippolito, 21, both of Rochester.</p><p>They could face up to seven years in prison.</p><p>A third activist, Megan Cosgrove, was along on the nighttime visits last summer but is not being charged at this time. Cosgrove has moved from Rochester.</p><p>Wegmans Food Markets Inc. spokeswoman Jo Natale declined to comment.</p><p>State Police Investigator Frank Daurizio in Wayne County helped prepare the warrants and confirmed the charges.</p><p>During their visits, the activists took nine injured hens from the facility, which has been owned by Wegmans since 1967 and is the largest egg farm in New York.</p><p>Two of the nine died from their injuries, said Durand, a packaging designer.</p><p>He took the video footage during the visits and later produced &quot;Wegmans Cruelty,&quot; which shows injured and trapped birds and corpses in cages.</p><p>&quot;Wegmans contends that the treatment of these animals is within the boundaries of the law,&quot; said Thompson.</p><p>&quot;Members of the public might think otherwise. (The video) paints a pretty clear picture of what's going on.&quot;</p><p>A trial is possible, he said.</p><p>There are more than 200 large-scale egg farms in the United States, according United Egg Producers, an industry group in Atlanta.</p><p>At least 90 percent of them, including the Wegmans operation, follow a voluntary care program that regulates cage size and standards for food, water and transportation, said spokesman Mitch Head.</p><p><a href="mailto:CIRELAND@DemocratandChronicle.com">CIRELAND@DemocratandChronicle.com</a> </p>

<p>In case anyone missed this in the D &amp; C, here it is along with info on a protest on Saturday, August 3rd.!<br /> ----------<br /> Corydon Ireland<br /> Staff writer</p> <p>(August 5, 2005) — Arrest warrants were issued Thursday for two animal rights activists who last year broke into the Wegmans Egg Farm in Wayne County and this July released a graphic documentary of conditions at the 750,000-hen facility.</p> <!--break--><p>Both are members of the local group Compassionate Consumers and will be arraigned at noon today in Wolcott Town Court, according to their defense attorney, Donald Thompson of Rochester.</p> <p>Charged with third-degree burglary, a felony, are Adam Durand, 25, and Melanie Ippolito, 21, both of Rochester.</p> <p>They could face up to seven years in prison.</p> <p>A third activist, Megan Cosgrove, was along on the nighttime visits last summer but is not being charged at this time. Cosgrove has moved from Rochester.</p> <p>Wegmans Food Markets Inc. spokeswoman Jo Natale declined to comment.</p> <p>State Police Investigator Frank Daurizio in Wayne County helped prepare the warrants and confirmed the charges.</p> <p>During their visits, the activists took nine injured hens from the facility, which has been owned by Wegmans since 1967 and is the largest egg farm in New York.</p> <p>Two of the nine died from their injuries, said Durand, a packaging designer.</p> <p>He took the video footage during the visits and later produced "Wegmans Cruelty," which shows injured and trapped birds and corpses in cages.</p> <p>"Wegmans contends that the treatment of these animals is within the boundaries of the law," said Thompson.</p> <p>"Members of the public might think otherwise. (The video) paints a pretty clear picture of what's going on."</p> <p>A trial is possible, he said.</p> <p>There are more than 200 large-scale egg farms in the United States, according United Egg Producers, an industry group in Atlanta.</p> <p>At least 90 percent of them, including the Wegmans operation, follow a voluntary care program that regulates cage size and standards for food, water and transportation, said spokesman Mitch Head.</p> <p><a href="mailto:CIRELAND@DemocratandChronicle.com">CIRELAND@DemocratandChronicle.com</a> </p>