Updated: Woman found guilty of arson in 2001 University of Washington fire

The Seattle Times ^ | March 7, 2008 | Mike Carter and Hal Bernton

[jazusamo]

TACOMA — Jurors weighing the fate of Briana Waters struggled with a charge that would have sent the 32-year-old mother and violin teacher to prison for 30 years.

Their verdict, delivered Thursday in a packed federal courtroom, recognized her participation in the 2001 arson at a University of Washington research center, but also her limited role in the crime and the modest prison sentences expected to be given to others involved. The arson was committed in the name of the Earth Liberation Front.

While jurors convicted the Oakland, Calif., woman of two counts of arson, they deadlocked on three other charges, including the most serious, which would have sent her to prison for a minimum of 30 years. Afterward, some in the jury said they were sympathetic because Waters has a 3-year-old daughter.

"It's fair to say that for a lot of us, it was very emotional," said one male juror, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "I mean, here was a mom with a kid. It certainly played into the deliberations."

~snip~

Her attorney, Robert Bloom, argued that she should remain free pending her sentencing.

Bloom said Waters posed no flight risk and no danger to the community.

"Indeed, this is a woman who has lived an exemplary life ... A life to which we all should aspire," Bloom said.

"I beg to differ," countered Bartlett, the prosecutor. "She is a felon. She committed perjury, she told lie after lie. She has shown an incredible inability to deal with her own actions."

~snip~

Bruce Bare, dean of the UW's College of Forest Resources, said he was pleased with the verdict.

"Somebody was held accountable. It will never cover the emotional anguish that some of our folks suffered," Bare said.

[jazusamo]

She should have been made an example of for other would be participants in arsons, kid or no kid, IMO.

[AnAmericanMother]

That sort of emotional argument is not supposed to play into the question of guilt or innocence.

The judge can consider it at sentencing.

I guess there are a lot of 'soft' men out in that neck of the woods. He sure sounds like one. Lot of good it's going to do the kid to have a perjuring, felonious, arsonist mom around.

[Pistolshot]

[Doomonyou]

"Indeed, this is a woman who has lived an exemplary life ... A life to which we all should aspire," Bloom said.

Right! Lets all strive to Wacko-eco-arsonists!

What a pant load.

[jazusamo]

You summed it up well. I was a little surprised she was found guilty on any counts because of the way her attorney played the mother angle up.

[lonevoice]

ELF is a domestic terrorist organization, plain and simple. When we catch terrorists, they should be sentenced to the maximum penalty available for their crimes, regardless of whether or not they have children or have or have not been convicted of previous offenses. Period.

[vikingd00d]

>>”Indeed, this is a woman who has lived an exemplary life ... A life to which we all should aspire,” Bloom said.

So, Mr. Robert Bloom aspires to be an arsonist and a perjuror... how nice.

[IonInsights]

Hope you rot in there you terrorist, mother or not.

[thulldud]

Note the emotional heart-tugging in the news report:

Jurors weighing the fate of Briana Waters struggled with a charge that would have sent the 32-year-old mother and violin teacher

"Mother" and "violin teacher", not "arsonist". And definitely not "evironmentalist wacko".

Lord forbid that we do anything to discourage felonious wackoism.

[goodnesswins]

SHE is an irresponsible MOTHER who put her child’s life at risk because of her behavior....yes, I know the child was born AFTER the incident....but, she had to know the consequences of her actions....and how that would work against her child. Guess Daddy must take over now...there is a Daddy, please, tell me there is????

[jazusamo]

"Indeed, this is a woman who has lived an exemplary life ... A life to which we all should aspire," Bloom said.

Barf Ping!

[Bernard Marx]

Charles Manson should demand another trial. After all, he was a good "family" man.

[jazusamo]

I suppose this is the Daddy, it's a pic from a support site.

[jazusamo]

Yep, Charlie was quite a family man. :)

[oldbrowser]

Arson is worse than using a gun.

[geezerwheezer]

I feel sorry for the baby. I always wonder how folks get caught up in these weirdo groups, and wonder what kind of parents did they have? Were their families all weird too or did these folks get dropped on their heads or something? Really doesn't matter I guess, because I really think they should be summarily executed at high noon on the public square if found guilty.

[Dmitry Vukicevich]

There is nothing exemplary about this piece of human garbage.

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

Well - she’s an envirowacko! they mean well - they don’t get punished the same way that a Republican would

[AngelesCrestHighway]

The arson was committed in the name of the Earth Liberation Front.

Throw here ass in Elliot Bay.....kid or no kid

[Veto!]

You’re so right about soft men in this area. If I don’t get out of here, I’ll die single. Horrible thought.

Ms. Veto!