So it's no surprise he showed zero remorse when officially pleading guilty to arson related to a fire at Glendale's Sheepskin Factory in April -- a crime for which he faces a maximum sentence of twenty years.
Details and previous coverage below.
According to the Walter Bond plea agreement, the following statement appeared on VoiceOfTheVoiceless.org after the blaze:
"The arson at the Sheepskin Factory in Denver was done in defense and retaliation for all the innocent animals that have died cruelly at the hands of human oppressors. Be warned that making a living from the use and abuse of animals will not be tolerated. Also be warned that leather is every bit as evil as fur. As demonstrated in my recent arson against the Leather Factory in Salt Lake City. Go vegan! -- ALF Lone Wolf."
As a new VoiceOfTheVoiceless.org item points out, Bond still faces arson charges in Utah. The piece encourages animal rights supporters to write Bond in jail, as does a separate post at AnimalLiberationFront.com that includes a September 1 manifesto from Bond entitled, "Why I Am a Vegan." The trigger for his anti-meat philosophy, he writes, was a job "to build an extension to the kill floor at the IBP plant in Perry, Iowa... In this fully functioning slaughter-house I saw the most grizzly mechanized murders that there are to witness."
Look below to see an enormous amount of info, including his plea agreement, a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, and material gleaned from earlier Westword posts about Bond, including the original criminal complaint and a music video tribute to "Lone Wolf" for torching a meth lab back in the 1990s:
U.S. Attorney's Office release:
WALTER BOND PLEADS GUILTY TO CHARGES RELATED TO THE ARSON OF THE SHEEPSKIN FACTORY IN GLENDALEDENVER -- Walter Bond, aka "Lone Wolf," age 34, of Salt Lake City, Utah, pled guilty this afternoon [November 18] to one count of use of fire or explosives to damage and destroy property in interstate commerce, and one count of force, violence and threats involving an Animal Enterprise, United States Attorney John Walsh, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Marvin Richardson, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge James Davis announced. The guilty plea was tendered before U.S. District Court Judge Christine M. Arguello. Judge Arguello is scheduled to sentence Bond on February 11, 2011.
Walter Edmund Bond was first charged by Criminal Complaint on July 23, 2010. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on July 27, 2010. He pled guilty today, November 18, 2010.
According to the stipulated facts contained in the plea agreement, on April 30, 2010, at about 3:30 a.m., a fire occurred at the Sheepskin Factory, located at 510 South Colorado Boulevard in Glendale, Colorado. The Sheepskin Factory is a commercial retail business that uses and sells animal products for profit. The fire destroyed the building and its contents, resulting in approximately $500,000 in damages.
Investigators at the scene of the fire determined the fire was incendiary and had been intentionally set. Video footage from a business next to the Sheepskin Factory showed a person wearing a dark, long sleeve hooded shirt and carrying a dark colored backpack walking toward the Sheepskin Factory right before the fire was set. The general height and weight of the person from the video appears to match that of the defendant.
After the fire, Bond posted a message on the internet taking responsibility for the Sheepskin Factory fire. At the end of that message the defendant used the nickname "ALF Lone Wolf." Bond later contacted an old acquaintance, traveling from Salt Lake City to Denver for a meeting. As a result of that meeting, agents and investigators determined that Bond targeted the Sheepskin Factory because it represented animals that wolves typically hunt. They also learned that the defendant broke into the Sheepskin Factory through the back door to light the fire. When agents arrested the defendant, he had a dark colored backpack with him.
"An alleged political agenda never justifies violent criminal actions like those the defendant took in this case," said U.S. Attorney John Walsh. "Those who resort to such actions will face resolute prosecution and significant prison time."
"ATF is dedicated to safeguarding the American public by enforcing federal laws related to arson," said ATF Special Agent in Charge Marvin Richardson. "We take the crime of arson very seriously and will aggressively pursue those who choose to commit this cowardly act of violence."
"This guilty plea is the result of the hard work and dedication of our agents and task force officers and the cumulative commitment of the FBI, ATF, Glendale Police Department, Denver Fire Department, and U.S. Attorney's Office to aggressively investigate and prosecute those responsible for ideologically driven acts of force and violence," said FBI Special Agent in Charge James Davis. "Our priority with acts of terrorism remains to be proactive and preventive but when attacks do occur, they will be pursued to justice. The Joint Terrorism Task Force partners remain steadfastly committed, and continue to work together daily here in Colorado and around the country to ensure that citizens of this country are safe from terrorist threats of all kinds."
Bond faces not less than 5 years and not more than 20 years imprisonment, and up to a $250,000 fine, for use of fire or explosives to damage and destroy property in interstate commerce. Bond also faces not more than 10 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine for force, violence and threats involving an Animal Enterprise. He could also be ordered to pay restitution to the owner of the Sheepskin Factory.
This case was investigated by the ATF, FBI, Denver Fire Department, and the Glendale Police Department.
Bond is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Holloway.
July 26 post:
Walter Bond doesn't exactly hide his convictions when it comes to animal rights. Law-enforcement types note that he has "a prominent tattoo on his neck just below his chin that reads, 'VEGAN.'"
However, Bond is accused of doing more than simply sticking to salads. He's been formally charged with setting fire to a sheepskin factory in April -- and he's said to have told investigators of his desire to repeat the feat.
Walter Bond's criminal complaint details the April 30 fire at the Sheepskin Factory, 510 South Colorado Boulevard in Glendale; a June blaze at a Salt Lake City, Utah leather factory; an early July conflagration at a Sandy, Utah restaurant that serves foie gras; and the information supplied by Bond during a sit-down at an East Colfax hotel. Here's a passage about the latter:
On July 22, 2010, at the direction of your Affiant, CI-01 met with Walter Edmund BOND at the Ramada Inn hotel located at 1150 E. Colfax Ave, Denver Colorado 80218. The meeting was consensually monitored and audio and video tape recorded by ATF. Your affiant and other investigators monitored the conversation and heard BOND state that he burned the Sheepskin Factory in Denver as well as a leather factory and a foie gras restaurant in Utah. BOND stated that he used the nickname "Lone Wolf" and these businesses all represented animals wolves typically hunt. BOND stated that at one time he lived near the Sheepskin Factory in Glendale and that it angered him that the business profited from animals. BOND further stated that the structure was "a box of matches" and he felt that it would easily burn. BOND stated that after he set the fire he watched it burn and saw fire trucks responding. BOND further stated that he intends to "torch" the Sheepskin Factory "in a couple of years" again since it is now reopened at another location.
Given his current legal situation, it'll take a lot of luck for him to make good on this last alleged goal. Look below to read a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, which details the potential sentence Bond could receive if convicted.
ATF, FBI AND GLENDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT ARREST WALTER BOND FOR SHEEPSKIN FACTORY ARSON IN GLENDALEDENVER -- Walter Bond, age 34, was arrested last night by Special Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), for the April 30, 2010 arson of the Sheepskin Factory in Glendale, Colorado, United States Attorney David Gaouette, ATF Special Agent in Charge Marvin Richardson, FBI Special Agent in Charge James Davis, and Glendale Police Chief Victor Ross announced. Bond, who is charged with one count of arson of property affecting interstate commerce, is scheduled to make an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Denver at 2:00 p.m. July 23, where he will be advised of the charges pending against him, and the related penalties for that crime.
According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, on April 30, 2010, a fire occurred at the Sheepskin Factory located at 510 South Colorado Boulevard, in Glendale, Colorado. The business sells a variety of sheepskin products, including seat covers, shoes, rugs and blankets via their store and internet, meaning the products travel within interstate commerce. The fire destroyed the building and its contents, resulting in approximately $500,000 in damages.
Bond stated that he used the nickname "Lone Wolf" and that he burned the Sheepskin Factory in Denver as well as a leather factory and restaurant in Utah. The defendant further noted that these businesses all represented animals wolves typically hunt. He said that at one time he lived near the Sheepskin Factory in Glendale, and that it angered him that the business profited from animals. Bond then said that the structure was a "box of matches" and he felt that it would easily burn. He allegedly watched the business burn and saw fire trucks responding. He also said he intended to "torch" the Sheepskin Factory "in a couple of years" again since it is now reopened at another location.
The affidavit noted that someone using the nickname "ALF Lone Wolf" posted on an internet site the following text: "the arson at the Sheepskin Factory in Denver was done in defense and retaliation for all the innocent animals that have died cruelly at the hands of human oppressors. Be warned that making a living from the use and abuse of animals will not be tolerated. Also be warned that leather is every bit as evil as fur. As demonstrated in my recent arson against the Leather Factory in Salt Lake City. Go vegan!"
"Thanks to the hard work of the ATF and FBI, a serial arsonist has been arrested," said U.S. Attorney David Gaouette.
"Arson is a serious and potentially deadly crime that impacts an entire community," said ATF Special Agent in Charge Marvin Richardson. "ATF is committed to pursuing arsonists that endanger firefighters and communities by their senseless acts of violence."
"Terrorism in the name of animal rights is every bit as dangerous and destructive as the other threats facing our country today," said FBI Special Agent in Charge James Davis. "The actions of Mr. Bond resulted in significant property damage and worse, could have resulted in the loss of life. The FBI, along with the ATF and our other Joint Terrorism Task Force partners are committed to working together to ensure that citizens of this country are safe from terrorist threats of all kinds."
If convicted of arson of property affecting interstate commerce, Bond faces not less than 5 years, and not more than 20 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the ATF, FBI, Denver Fire Department, and the Glendale Police Department.
Bond is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Holloway.
A criminal complaint is a probable cause charging document. Anyone accused of a federal felony crime has a Constitutional right to be indicted by a federal grand jury.
The charges contained in the complaint are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
On the next page is the actual criminal complaint from the case.
July 27 post:
We recently told you about alleged arsonist Walter Bond, who authorities believe was responsible for burning down Glendale's Sheepskin Factory and two businesses in Salt Lake City, including a restaurant that served foie gras.
Turns out Bond's a hero to the animal liberation movement, and to members of a straight-edge band Earth Crisis, who reportedly used his 1998 conviction for arson as inspiration for a song and video called "As Ashes."
This information comes from the website Voice of the Voiceless!, which calls itself the "Journal of the Animal Liberation Movement." Here's an excerpt from a piece credited to Peter Young about Bond, whose nickname is "Lone Wolf:"
The arrest of the accused A.L.F. "Lone Wolf" Walter Bond has generated nationwide media coverage which has forced the issue of animal suffering into the minds of millions. Countless online and print articles have brought the overlooked issue of cow skin products into the conscious of the general public, in addition to the general issue of animal oppression. Excerpts from the Lone Wolf communiques have also brought the issue of animal suffering to a mainstream audience.The first TV news segment focuses on Bond's "folk hero" status after being the subject of a song by the vegan straight edge band Earth Crisis. The band's song "To Ashes" was inspired by Bond's 1998 prison sentence for arson. Bond was convicted of burning down a meth lab owned by a drug dealer who was selling to his brother. Earth Crisis wrote a song celebrating this brand of militant anti-drug action.
By the way, here's the aforementioned Lone Wolf communique:
The arson at the Sheepskin Factory in Denver was done in defense and retaliation for all the innocent animals that have died cruelly at the hands of human oppressors. Be warned that making a living from the use and abuse of animals will not be tolerated. Also be warned that leather is every bit as evil as fur. As demonstrated in my recent arson against the Leather Factory in Salt Lake City. Go vegan!
In a separate item, Voice of the Voiceless! writer Young encourages readers to send letters of support to Bond at his current address -- a county jail in Golden.
Click below to check out the Earth Crisis clip for "As Ashes:"
More from our Colorado Crimes archive: "Brenda Stewart, Denver Players/Sugar owner & ex-escort, indicted for tax evasion, racketeering."
