Posted on 12/06/2008 11:52:41 AM PST by NormsRevenge
FEDERAL COURT – A 57-year-old woman who is one of three people charged in the spring bombings of the federal courthouse and a FedEx building in San Diego pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday.
Ella Louise Sanders admitted to one charge of possession and use of a destructive device to commit a crime of violence. The charge carries a minimum sentence of 30 years in prison.
Sanders joined co-defendant Eric Robinson, who pleaded guilty to the same charge in September. His plea was formally accepted by Judge Margaret McKeown at the same hearing where Sanders pleaded guilty.
A third defendant, Rachel Carlock, is awaiting trial and is identified in court papers as the person who planted the explosives outside the downtown federal courthouse on May 4. The sentence for both Sanders and Robinson could be less. Prosecutors could ask for leniency if the two cooperate in the investigation.
Sanders admitted to helping acquire materials and construct pipe bombs during a period that ran from roughly March through May of this year.
In all there were three bombings: at the courthouse and shipping facility, and an explosion at a loading dock of a hardware store across the street from the FedEx facility in March.
Sanders admitted buying explosives and stealing pipes and end caps from a Home Depot. She said she helped Carlock build bombs at a residence in Menifee, in southern Riverside County.
Two of those bombs were detonated outside the FedEx center on 47th Street on April 25. No one was injured.
Sanders also said she helped build three bombs and placed them in a backpack for Carlock on May 3. Robinson drove Carlock from Menifee to the federal building where the bombs were detonated outside the front door.
The powerful explosion sprayed shrapnel, including nails, for nearly two blocks. A law clerk working late on the fourth floor of the courthouse later said he heard the blast and felt a slight tremor in the building.
No clear motive for the bombings has been revealed.
During her plea agreement, Sanders said she is taking medication for a variety of mental health issues, including bipolar disorder and what she termed “rage episodes,” but did not say what prompted the string of bombings.
She said she took responsibility for what she termed “a stupid act.”
Ya wanna go play with pipe bombs, kiddies, go ahead. but be prepared to pay the price.
If you’re lucky , you won’t blow yourself up, if we’re lucky.. uhh. We’ll never cross paths..
She may have mental issues,, she had rage episodes..
They should use the Bill Ayers defense.
Sanders admitted buying explosives and stealing pipes and end caps from a Home Depot.
—
It was in the DIY section, no doubt.
The Twinkie defense ... California, check.
Bush made her do it,
Of course the authorities know why the bombers did it. The FBI, the California State Police, and City of San Diego - these authorities all know why the bombings occurred. They’ve simply put a lid on the information.
The bombers have been told to keep their mouths shut.
Should we honestly think that our Federal government has moved an entire brigade of troops stateside for some vaguely stated reason like national security?
Senator Obama intends, as President, to legitimize the presence of tens of millions of foreign nationals here in this country illegally even though the vast majority of citizens are adamantly opposed. Amnesty, again, will soon be brought up in the Congress. Senator Harry Reid, along with the enthusiastic support of Senator McCain, is preparing the legislation and lining up supporters right now.
U.S. citizens are having foreign domination and open borders thrust down our throats, and we’re not allowed to protest.
That is what I believe this was all about and the government is scared as hell!
It’ll be interesting to hear what the defendants profess the motive to be. I can buy that someone with mental issues, including bi-polar disorder, who is on multiple medications might do something violent and bizarre. However, I don’t buy that this middle-aged woman found two other sociopaths who coincidentally, just like her, wanted to build pipe bombs and blow up random buildings.
These are odd crimes. If it was just the federal building, I might suspect some Timothy McVeigh weirdness, even though such people tend to be loners rather than working in groups. But, the addition of the Fed Ex building makes me think it’s something else. Putting the shrapnel in the second bomb indicates a desire to cause maximum harm, death and injury to a lot of total strangers. The whole thing is incomprehensible.
NO SALE.
You seem slightly uninformed.
California's 3 strikes law are the most strict, bar none. No other states chose to adopt a law as sweeping as California's 3 strikes law. Not to mention the states mandatory minimum sentencing laws.
As of 2007, California's state prison system holds over 170,000 prisoners in custody in a system designed for 83,000, and most California prisons currently hold populations more than double their design capacity.
This is one of the factors why California's two major cities have generally substantially lower crime rates than do major cities in other states.
Future Professors . . . if they turn out to be left wing.
Oldplayer
Check out the court decision involving the other defendant's parent for one possible motive.
Anyone know how they found them?
Prolly thought FedEx meant federal government.
----
Send treats to the troops...
Great because you did it!
www.AnySoldier.com
She’s on the fast track to becoming secretary of education under obama. Ayers would have gotten the job except American didn’t believe Axelrod’s obfuscations about their kids attending the same school and that’s how they met.
Courts generally have more cameras around them than NBC. Especially Federal courts. In addition,downtown areas, in and around court houses are generally loaded with cameras. These folks were not real slick. They even had video of one of their little pipe bombs going off.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.