Draper man denies guilt in bombing

Flanked by his parents and attorney, a Draper man accused of bombing the Utah Fur Breeders Agricultural Cooperative in March pleaded not guilty Thursday.

The plea was the only comment made by Douglas Joshua Ellerman, 19, during the brief court appearance, the first since his indictment June 19. U.S. Magistrate Ronald Boyce ordered federal marshals to process and release Ellerman pending further hearings.Ellerman, whom investigators have identified as a member of the Animal Liberation Front, is charged with 16 counts of malicious destruction by means of an explosive, use of destructive device and aiding and abetting in connection with the March 11 co-op bombing.

According to the grand jury indictment, Ellerman used six unregistered explosives in the form of pipe bombs to destroy the co-op building and seven vehicles at 8700 S. 700 West. The damage was estimated at $1 million.

The bombing, which occurred about 2 a.m., was the worst case of animal rights terrorism in Utah history. Investigators believe the co-op was targeted by animal rights activists because it ships mink feed to fur breeders throughout the country.

An unidentified, militant underground animal rights group claimed responsibility for the bombing the next day. However, several local animal rights activists condemned the attack.

Boyce advised Ellerman that if he's convicted, he would face a sentence of up to 20 years in prison on each of six of the counts, 30 years on each of five of the counts and 10 years on each of five of the counts, plus more than $1 million in fines.

Despite the seriousness of the charges and the nature of the crime, Ellerman was not arrested following his indictment. And prosecutors Thursday had no objection to his continued release.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Schwendiman said after the hearing, "We're satisfied that he is not a threat to the community."

Ellerman's attorney, Ronald J. Yengich, said he too was satisfied with the terms of release imposed by Boyce. He noted in court that he had already imposed "loose release conditions" upon his client, including a requirement that he live with his parents and not travel beyond Salt Lake, Utah and Summit counties.

To that, Boyce added a curfew that requires Ellerman to remain at home from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. and not associate with or contact any of the potential witnesses in the case. Schwendiman asked the judge to stress the "no association" point.

Boyce also ordered Ellerman to report to a pre-trial services representative once a week and to be available for all court hearings.

A spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said following the indictment last month that the investigation into the bombing is continuing. Schwen-diman, however, declined to comment on the status of the investigation.

Independent of the government investigation, the national Fur Commission USA has offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the co-op bombing.