Panel says sentence was too harsh (Eugene HRC on eco-terrorist/anarchist)

Eugene Register-Guard ^ | June 12, 2003 | Bill Bishop

[Clinging Bitterly]

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www.registerguard.com | © The Register-Guard, Eugene, Oregon

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June 12, 2003

Panel says sentence was too harsh

By Bill Bishop
The Register-Guard

Two years after a Eugene anarchist began a 22-year prison term for burning three sport utility vehicles and attempting to burn an oil company, the city's Human Rights Commission has issued a letter supporting a reduced sentence for Jeffrey "Free" Luers.

In the letter, the commission describes itself as the community's "conscience in the arena of human rights" and says that other offenders convicted of similar and more serious crimes have received less harsh punishment.

"In no way are we supporting him or his crime," said Sara Rich, a commission member who spent six months researching the case and urging the commission to question whether Luers' harsh sentence is based on his political beliefs.

"During these difficult times, we must work diligently to ensure that the basic civil rights of all of our fellow citizens are equally protected and upheld," the letter states. "We therefore urge Mr. Luers to use his appeal process in the hope that a review of his sentence will lead to a reduction in time served and with the expectation that the length of his sentence would not be based on his political beliefs."

The letter doesn't commit the city to any action on Luers' behalf but is intended for Luers to use in any way he wishes, Rich said. The letter does not mention Luers' conviction for attempted arson of a fume-filled tanker truck at an oil company in a Whiteaker residential area that investigators believe could have been catastrophic. Luers disavows any connection with the crime.

Melissa Mona, spokeswoman for the group Break the Chains, said the organization requested the letter in hopes it will appeal to people who otherwise might not consider the issue because they are put off by Luers' behavior, his avowed anarchist beliefs or his social class.

She said police and prosecutors seem to be much less harsh with young people who regularly riot and set fires in the West University neighborhood.

Mona said Luers is a longtime environmental activist who made "a stupid mistake" by committing crimes to underscore larger environmental issues. With the harsh sentence, "it seems we're punishing thought," Mona said.

Luers, 24, was convicted for 10 felonies - including three counts of first-degree arson at the Romania truck dealership off Franklin Boulevard on June 16, 2000, and two counts of attempted arson at the Tyree Oil Inc. three weeks earlier.

He is appealing the sentence, arguing the crimes were not first-degree arson, the sentences should not be served back-to-back, and that he was sentenced as though someone had been seriously injured or endangered. No one was injured in either incident.

Luers' co-defendant, Craig Andrew Marshall, 30, made a plea deal on charges in the Romania case and was sentenced in November 2000 to 5 1/2 years in prison.

Although the case began three years ago, vocal supporters continue to press Luers' cause.

They have organized a demonstration for Saturday at noon at Scobert Park, Fourth Avenue and Blair Boulevard, in Eugene and have created the Web site www.freefreenow.org.

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[Clinging Bitterly]

Interesting that this outfit thinks that in this case, he was given a harsh sentence because of his thoughts or beliefs about sellers of SUVs or oil companies, yet they have no problem with special status for what they call "hate crimes", also based on the alleged violator's thoughts or beliefs regarding the victim's status as a member of a particular class.

Dave in Eugene

[AlaskaErik]

Well, I don't think he got enough time. These eco-terrorists need to be locked up and the key thrown away.

[Clinging Bitterly]

Shoulda posted this yesterday.

Doesn't seem all that smart, this group raising the issue that they have, but they are a pretty kooky bunch.

[microgood]

it will appeal to people who otherwise might not consider the issue because they are put off by Luers' behavior, his avowed anarchist beliefs or his social class.

I see what you mean.

[Porterville]

TERRORIST, he should be tried for attempted murder.

[Drango]

"it seems we're punishing thought,"

Huh?

[What Is Ain't]

Good point.

We need to add some classifications to hate crime legislation: SUV and oil company hate crimes.

I hope he has to serve every single day of his sentence. A strong message needs to be sent to these environmental utopians.

[Clinging Bitterly]

>> These eco-terrorists need to be locked up and the key thrown away.

No kidding. He burned three trucks at the dealership, but he got something started, because subsequent to that, some of his fellow travelers returned to the dealership and torched the whole lotful, burning 31 SUVs in all. It was a huge fire, ignited by careful placement of several plastic jugs of gasoline. The runoff from fighting the fire, thousands of gallons of dirty water, gasoline, oil, battery acid, melted plasic, etc., all ran straight into the river. Every drop. That's eco-terrorism, no doubt.

Here are some comments he wrote about that second fire, which happened after he was arrested but before his trial:

"I cannot deny the joy in my heart when I read the newspapers in the days following the fire. But it was a mixed joy. I will always support acts of revolution, and I do support this act. However, I have seen the negative consequences of this action first-hand.
Not only did I come under investigation for ties to this fire - law enforcement believes I am a regional ELF leader. My friends and witnesses also came under investigation."

"That said I would like to extend my revolutionary thanks to those persons unknown. Since I've fallen, several acts have been committed in solidarity with me. To those responsible for these actions, please know my gratitude. Know that each day I ask the spirits to watch over you, to keep you safe and invisible. May you continue to strike like lightening and disappear with the wind."

Sounds to me like he deserved every day he will be spending in prison.

Dave in Eugene

[swilhelm73]

Oh please. Engage in your first amendment rights outside of an abortion mill, and you get hit with a federal RICO suit and thrown in prison.

Some eco-terrorist gets caught in a criminal act that could have cost lives, and boo hoo, prison is to tough for him.

If I was in the criminal justice system in Oregon, I'd personally ask Ashcroft to hit this scumbag with a RICO suit, in addition to his prison term, and then use this as a good cause to began massive federal investigation of the entire, terrorist ridden, 'environmental' movement.

These !@#$% hypocrites really piss me off.

[garden variety]

Hmm. A demonstration at Fourth and Blair. Just the thought of all those eco-freaks all in one place makes my skin crawl.

[cardinal4]

I would imagine this self righteous eco-hippy got the shock of his life his first night on the main pop..

[blackie]

The sentence was very appropriate!

[rogator]

Maybe he should be serving his sentence in Guantanamo Bay with the other terrorists.

[rogator]

Maybe he should be serving his sentence in Guantanamo Bay with the other terrorists.

[Clinging Bitterly]

>> A demonstration at Fourth and Blair.

Well that's pretty much where they always are anyway. Nobody else ever goes to that park, except the streetwalkers who put out for the going rate of a bag of heroin. It's creepy, the type of individuals you see lurking around there.

[Clinging Bitterly]

>> The sentence was very appropriate!

I dunno. I did some looking around his website (listed at the bottom of the article). While he is there, he gets his own website, and he is "continuing his college education". I have a huge problem with paying for those things, I think the 22 years is fine, but it should be in one of those kennels at Guantanamo.

[blackie]

I agree ... I was referring to the length and not the accommodations. :)