Judge Won't Drop Acquitted Charges in New Trial Against Raw Milk Farmer
February 15, 2013
Activist Post
Last September, Alvin Schlangen was acquitted in Hennepin County, Minnesota of the following three charges: selling raw milk, operating without a food license, and handling adulterated food.
But in January he was brought up on six charges in his home county of Stearns, including the same three that were just dropped against him. Each side had a few weeks to submit letters, one of which was Alvin's attorney requesting to have the same three charges dropped.
Alvin is arguing that this is serial prosecution - I'm guessing a less severe form of what we might call Double Jeopardy. But Judge Thomas Knapp disagreed and said they were different "crimes," although similar, happening 10 days apart and involving separate foods. Schlangen argued that both county allegations "were from the same behavioral incident or continuous course of conduct," but the judge is moving forward and another trial will take place with Alvin on the defense.
As stressful as this dragged-out battle has been for Alvin and his supporters who rely on him for fresh food drop-offs -- there is plenty that we can do to help....
