Salt Lake man admits to contempt of court in mink farm raid case

SALT LAKE CITY — A Salt Lake man who refused to testify in a federal investigation into the raid of a South Jordan mink farm pleaded guilty to contempt of court Tuesday.

Jordan Halliday, 22, admitted in U.S. District Court that he disobeyed and resisted two federal court orders in March 2009 to testify before a grand jury. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 19.

Federal authorities believed Halliday had information about the 2008 attacks on the McMullin mink ranch and two other ranches, but he refused to answer questions during his appearance before the grand jury even after Judge Tena Campbell ordered him to do so.

Alex Jason Hall, 21, of Ogden, and William James Viehl, 23, of Layton, eventually pleaded guilty to releasing about 650 minks and defacing property on the McMullin ranch.

Both are serving time in federal prison.

— Dennis Romboy