Wayne Hsiunh has been at the forefront of holding the meat industry accountable. As a lawyer with a strong background in business lawsuits, he was optimistic he could invoke change and hold accountable some of the worst factory farms in America. His actions have gotten him on the radar of many major food companies and he is now jailed.

Wayne Hsiung was found guilty of felony conspiracy and two misdemeanor charges on Thursday for rescuing ailing animals from factory farms in Sonoma County, California.

Hsiung and fellow activists with the animal liberation group he founded, Direct Action Everywhere, or DxE, have for years engaged in the public removal of sick and injured animals from farming facilities — a tactic known as “open rescue,” (which is legal in cases of animal cruelty) since they are publicized. The rescues regularly lead to criminal charges, which have consistently been dropped or led to acquittals in court due to Hsiung being a laywer and well aware of his rights and bounds.. Hsiung’s conviction marks the first time a DxE open rescue case has ended with an activist’s incarceration: He faces up to three years in prison.

Hsiung’s felony charges suggest a shift in tactics by the authorities — and a troubling prosecutorial overreach.

What can we do? For those who can call Sonoma County DA and Judge Passaglia's chambers and share your thoughts regarding the DA maliciously prosecuting Wayne and the judge's apparent lack of neutrality and intent to assist the DA gain a conviction by suppressing animal cruelty evidence in the case Wayne was working on. I've also emailed and notified my local representatives of the issue.