Posted on 07/20/2006 5:16:47 PM PDT by Graybeard58
Pledging to continue cooperating with prosecutors, three defendants in a sweeping multistate federal investigation of arson by environmental radicals took plea deals in federal court in Eugene on Thursday.
Their recommended sentences will range from three to 14 years, substantially less than they could have faced had they gone to trial. At their sentencing hearings, the government will argue their crimes violate the federal anti-terrorism law.
All are scheduled for sentencing in December. Three more defendants are scheduled to appear for similar hearings Friday. Four others are awaiting trial and three are fugitives believed to have fled the country.
Springfield resident Kevin Tubbs, 37, pleaded guilty to 56 counts, including two of conspiracy and 54 of arson, involving nine separated attacks. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Engdall said he will recommend a 14-year sentence if Tubbs follows through on his pledge to cooperate with the government.
Tubbs’ crimes include the destruction of the Oakridge Ranger Station in 1996, a fire-bomb attack on the Eugene Police substation near the University of Oregon in 2000, and the $1-million arson of SUVs at the former Romania truck dealership in Eugene in 2001. In most cases, Tubbs served as driver and lookout, according to court records.
Kendall Tankersley, 29, currently released pending trial, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, attempted arson and arson in a plea deal for no more than a 51-month sentence. She admitted being the lookout for an arson that destroyed the U.S. Forest Industries plant in Medford in 1998. She was allowed to remain free in Arizona pending sentencing.
A third defendant, Darren Todd Thurston, 36, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit arson to destroy a Bonneville Power Administration transmission line in Deschutes County in 1999. He also agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge of arson at a Bureau of Land Management wild horse corral near Susanville, Calif., in 2001.
And this guy can get a max of only 14 years? He firebombed a police station, fercryinoutloud!
I strongly second that!
Agreed, but these three have been turned and are helping put the others behind bars. From the number of arrests it was pretty evident someone was helping all along and it looks like it might have been these.
These are ECO-Terrorists!! Since the left has gone soft on terrorism, my guess is that they will NOT get what they deserve!
5 freakin months for sentencing??? WTF WTH??
Our judicial system seems to be in a quagmire. What takes 5 months for sentencing when the parties have been found guilty?
Just more BS from our ever marxist turning gubbmint.
"judicial branch" indeed. What a load.
I'm pissed off so I'll go now so's I won't get hauled into "court" for a "hate crime".
FMCDH(BITS)
ok
You can tell these freaks are low lifes. It's going to be fun watching the authorities roll up their flanks.
Pass the popcorn...
The five month delay is to give them time to rat out their fellow conspirators and for the government to be able to check out their stories. If they were immediately sentenced, they'd have no incentive to keep on talking.
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