Raw Milk Farmer in Double Jeopardy Case Found Guilty

Heather Callaghan
Activist Post

In an odd turn of events, raw milk and pastured-egg farmer Alvin Schlangen, who received a court victory last September, was brought up on the same charges again and found guilty. Jury nullification, which is frequently upheld in Minnesota, was the saving grace last time - strangely, not so in this case.

Initially he was facing six charges in Stearns county - his home county - three of which are identical to the ones he was acquitted of in September in Hennepin county. Those included selling raw milk, operating without a food license, and handling adulterated food. Schlangen facilitated a private food club and even did free deliveries.

The trial lasted three days and ended with sentencing on Thursday.

The counts: 1. Operating without a food handler's license; 2. Storing eggs at temperatures above the mandated 45 degrees (Schlangen kept them at 50 for his food club members); 3. Distributing adulterated or misbranded food; 4. Violating a food embargo; 5. Selling custom processed meat.

One raw milk charge had been dropped before the trial...but, played a big focus in the trial and punishment.

The September acquittal was heralded on Facebook even months later. But many didn't realize he was quietly being slammed again in a different county on the same charges with more added in the mix. Furthermore, the case and pending court date were dragged out, perhaps in an attempt to make the support for him wane.

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