SUNBURY — The case against an engaged Massachusetts couple accused of releasing 683 mink from a fur farm outside Sunbury will be joined together, according to court documents.
On Dec. 2 Northumberland County District Attorney Mike O’Donnell filed a motion to join the case against, Christopher Legere, 25, who now goes by Celeste, and co-defendant Cara Mitrano, 27, who both face felony eco-terrorism charges, together.
The pair were granted bail in October after they both asked President Judge Paige Rosini to modify the bail set by District Judge Rachel Wiest Benner at the request of O’Donnell. The initial bail included $150,000 straight cash bail and release conditions, including an approved home plan in Pennsylvania, electronic monitoring devices and no contact with each other.
Rosini ordered the $150,000 bail remain, but granted Legere and Mitrano an opportunity to post the $15,000 bail each. She also vacated the other conditions of bail.
Sunbury attorney James Best represents Legere. Mitrano has hired an attorney from Harrisburg.
Rosini ruled that the couple could leave the state to return to their homes but must report to probation twice a month either in person or by video or other electronic method.
Legere told Rosini she had a place to stay in Worcester, Massachusetts, while Mitrano said she had options in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. Both told the judge they would attend any court proceedings.
According to state police, troopers were called to the Richard H. Stahl and Sons Fur Farm on Oct. 19. Officers spoke to members of the Stahl family, who said they took pictures of a vehicle as members of the fur farm attempted to block the road so the suspects couldn’t leave, police said.
The suspects tried to flee once, troopers said, and when they were located, the vehicle they were in accelerated toward one of the Stahls’ vehicles, damaging it before fleeing south on Airport Road, troopers said.
North America Animal Liberation Press Office spokesperson Joseph Buddenberg said the two are innocent until proven guilty.
“They have the support of thousands of people,” he said. “The animal rights movement will ensure they have a competent legal team.
The charges of terrorism and animal cruelty are absurd and surreal. Fur farmers terrorize, confine, and kill animals for extraneous luxury products. These criminal charges would be more appropriately applied to the Stahl family and the fur farmers who profit off the deaths of native wildlife.”
This was the second time in just more than a year the fur farm was struck. Thousands of mink were released in September 2023.
Both Legere and Mitrano are also due back in court for a formal arraignment on the charges in the next few weeks.