Activists charged with mischief in hen house
Channel 3, WVAX TV - Burlington, Vermont
Channel 3, WSTM.com, Syracuse, NY

WOLCOTT, N.Y. Three animal-rights activists have been indicted and accused of breaking into Wegmans Egg Farm in western New York to film the chickens. The group supports cage-free egg production.Wegmans has said conditions at the farm are well within the law.

The attorney for Adam Durand, Melanie Ippolito and Megan Cosgrove said they were indicted Friday by a Wayne County grand jury on charges of burglary, criminal mischief, petty larceny and criminal trespass. If found guilty, each could face several years in prison.

The activists are accused of breaking into the grocery chain's hen facility in June 2004 to film the chickens' living conditions. The footage showed up in a short film called, quote, "Wegmans Cruelty." The group supports cage-free egg production.

Wegmans has said conditions at the farm are well within the law.