Farmer Wins First Round In Rodent Case

The federal government has dropped all criminal charges against a bamboo farmer accused of killing five kangaroo rats last February - a surprise move applauded by private property groups seeking to defang the Endangered Species Act.

Taung Ming-Lin, the 52-year-old Taiwanese immigrant who became a cause celebre for conservatives nationwide, no longer faces the threat of jail time or a personal fine.

Instead, U.S. prosecutors will pursue a case only against his family corporation, Wang Lin Farms, which pleaded not guilty Tuesday to three counts of violating the federal Endangered Species Act.

“This is a big victory for Mr. Lin and a big victory for farmers and private property-rights groups nationwide,” said Loron Hodge of the Kern County Farm Bureau and the Coalition to Protect and Preserve Private Property Rights.

Hodge credited a series of rallies in California’s Central Valley and support from conservative leaders nationwide with forcing the government to re-evaluate its case.