DES MOINES, Iowa -- A Minneapolis man has been indicted on animal terrorism charges in Iowa, according to an indictment unsealed Thursday.

The indictment charges Scott Ryan DeMuth with one count of conspiring to commit animal enterprise terrorism and cause economic damage exceeding $10,000. It says the acts that DeMuth is accused of committing occurred between Nov. 9, 2004, and Nov. 20, 2004, in Johnson County.

Grand jury proceedings are secret and the indictment does not specify the alleged incident, but during that same period there was a break-in at an animal research lab at the University of Iowa, which is in Johnson County.

During the break-in at Spence Laboratories and Seashore Hall, vandals released pigeons and more than 300 rats and mice. They also dumped chemicals on data and damaged about 40 computers. Damage was estimated at more than $450,000.

An e-mail sent by someone claiming to be from the Animal Liberation Front claimed responsibility for the break-in.

Earlier this week DeMuth's attorney, Barbara Nimis told The Associated Press that she believed the grand jury was investigating the University of Iowa break-in.

Nimis did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment Thursday.

DeMuth is a member of EWOK, or Earth Warriors are OK!, a Minnesota-based group that supports animal rights and environmental activists who have been arrested as a result of what they call Green Scare tactics -- apparent attempts by the government to stamp out the radical environmental movement.

On Tuesday, DeMuth was found in contempt of court for refusing to answer federal grand jury questions in Davenport.

"He would rather be fighting charges that are clearly not warranted than just being in jail for not saying anything at all," said Natalia Shulkin, EWOK's spokeswoman.

DeMuth was being held in the Muscatine County jail.