Walter Bond Set To Be Sentenced Friday Afternoon (UPDATE)

'Animal Rights' Arsonist Gets 5 Years

UPDATE (3:20):

DENVER (AP) -- An animal rights activist from Salt Lake City who was convicted of setting fire to a Denver-area store that sells products made from sheepskin has been sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay $1.2 million in restitution

Walter Edmund Bond was defiant during Friday's sentencing hearing in Denver. He told Judge Christine Arguello that he wouldn't pay one dollar in restitution and defended his actions.

Arguello warned him that if he didn't pay for the damage to the Sheepskin Factory, he would face even more time behind bars.

The 34-year-old Bond pleaded guilty in November to setting the fire.

He also faces federal charges in Utah for fires at the Salt Lake City Tandy Leather Factory Store and the Tiburon Fine Dining restaurant in Sandy.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
An animal rights activist convicted of arson for burning down a Denver-area sheepskin factory is expected to hear his sentence Friday afternoon.

In July, Salt Lake City native Walter Bond was arrested and charged with one count of arson in connection with a fire at a Glendale sheepskin factory.

Authorities tracked down Bond, who has "Vegan" tattooed on his neck and is a member of the radical animal rights group called Animal Liberation Front, through a posting on the group's website that claimed responsibility for the fire.

He also claimed responsibility for two fires in Utah, but has not been charged with either.

In November, he pleaded guilty to the charge, and now faces between 5 and 20 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine. U.S. Attorney John Walsh said at the time that Bond should face "resolute prosecution and significant prison time."

WATCH:

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot