Posted on 01/18/2002 10:56:44 AM PST by MindBender26
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Former Symbionese Liberation Army fugitive Sara Jane Olson was sentenced today to 20 years to life in prison for conspiring to blow up police cars in 1975.
Following tearful statements from family and friends, Olson said she was "truly sorry" for causing anyone any pain. But she denied trying to murder officers by planting bombs under the two Los Angeles police cars to avenge the deaths of six SLA members during a shootout with authorities in 1974. The bombs didn't explode.
Superior Court Judge Larry Fidler sentenced Olson to two consecutive terms of 10 years to life.
She's sorry she caused pain? That would only be because she truly did cause pain.
Git ready for the book written from prison and the movie of the week. And, oh yeah, the hollywood elites coming out for her defense and some idiot, after spotting my VRWC bumpersticker and writing on the dust of my car, "Free Mumia the Mama."
Segregated jails do seem to promote this type of behavior. California is a liberal state. I think they should experiment with co-ed incarceration. Try Sara Jane and Cornfed as roomies. (No dogs though, that's tooooo liberal!)
To Bail Donors |
|
Dear Bail Donors Thank you so much for allowing me to have the past two and one-half years with Fred and the girls before going to prison. I realize that being deprived of your donated funds and property has been extremely difficult for many of you and may have altered your plans in some cases. I never intended, in the beginning, to pursue the legal course I ended up following. Like many journeys, it slipped from my control at certain junctures and I made mistakes. Although some of you may think I intended to plead guilty from the start and merely dallied for two and one-half years, this is not true. I intended to go to trial. As I stated in my plea when the judge made me return to court to reiterate my first and totally legal plea, I did not plan to make a bomb, I did not make a bomb and I did not place a bomb under police cars. I pled guilty because my husband and daughters need to get on with their lives. We're all exhausted and my family is out of money. I made the plea on the advice of an attorney, a man trained in the law and extremely experienced. I did not agree with him but I have never been in a situation like this before. I relied on his expertise. I would no more face a monstrously huge criminal trial (one of the largest, most complicated in American legal history against a lone citizen) without trained legal advice than I would have a gardener remove an inflamed strawberry gall bladder. Maybe someone else would but not this "girl." A conspiracy charge is difficult to defend. It doesn't require "beyond a reasonable doubt" evidence and thrives in a courtroom culture of circumstantial innuendo. It carried a sentence, if conviction occurred, of a mandatory life sentence. In my case, the withdrawal motion resulted in a display of Napoleonic Law when the defendant became guilty until proven innocent. My lawyer, Shawn Chapman, and I were completely unprepared for this sudden change of circumstances and we both certainly spent that night sleepless and depressed. Regardless, the plea has been made, albeit under duress, the motion to withdraw it duly denied, and I am going where over two million Americans find themselves today, into the world's largest prison system. I should be sentenced to five and one-quarter years. I should serve a little over half of that. I intend to maintain good behavior and I hope I will be allowed that privilege. Any other course would be illegal and, I am assured, has never occurred in California sentencing history. Of course, there is always a first time, as I have been reminded but I sincerely hope that will not happen. When I am sentenced on January 18, the bail will be vacated. It will be returned to the Cooper Law Firm trust and then be returned to the donors. Whether this will be done in a few days or a week, I don't know. Perhaps Steve Cooper can provide this information. Thank you for your kindness in the first place when you gave me help. I am grateful and humbled by your generosity. I am sorry your donations were tied up in my legal process for so long. I hope this experience doesn't make anyone hesitate when someone, anyone, needs help again. Given the largess and great humanity for which Minnesotans are justifiably known I don't believe that will ever be the case. I wish to thank the Cooper Law Firm and it's staff for all of their hard work and commitment to posting bail for me. Peace in the New Year, Sara Jane Olson |
She still doesn't get it as the letter shows. All the whining about conspiracy! One overt act in furtherance and you're toast. That's the law. Has been for years. If she had any brains she'd have steered clear of the SLA lowlifes. I have no sympathy for any of them, except the exceptionally vapid and impressionable Ms. Hearst who was brainwashed into participating. In her case I blame only her parents for not giving her the strength of character to adequately resist.
True.....which makes it all the sadder
Now finding out she is a killer, that's a problem.
It sure is. Not only do they have to live with the devastating truth but also the stigma attached to the family. Too bad that her hidden past has to bite them too.
Regarding her prison sentence. The plea agreement allows her to serve her time in Minnesota. The women's prison in Minnesota is in Shakopee (about 5 miles from me). They don't even have a fence, you must stay on the grounds.
The sentence will also be 'recalculated' in accordance with sentencing changes that have occurred in the years since her crime. She -may- serve only 2.5 years, she may serve more. They keep pretty quiet about that.
She got a sweet deal.
LOL.........hopefully he will have a lot of time on his hands after the 2002 election.
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.