Federal judge refuses to release suspected arsonist

sacbee ^ | 2-25-05

[LouAvul]

A federal judge Friday refused to allow a 21-year-old accused arsonist to be released pending trial and said he had betrayed his family and was a danger to society.

"He's 21 years old and he's never accomplished anything on his own in his life," U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter A. Nowinski said of Ryan Daniel Lewis. "He's 21 and he's still living at home."

Nowinski ordered the Newcastle man remain in the Sacramento County jail pending his trial on attempted arson and arson charges connected to a radical environmental group that is believed to have targeted at least three construction sites in the region since December.

The judge's decision came after a 45-minute hearing in which a prosecutor urged Nowinski to keep Lewis, a slight, bespectacled man who sat nearby in handcuffs and waist chains, under arrest.

His defense attorney had argued that Lewis could be trusted to be released and could easily be monitored electronically.

But the judge sharply rejected the argument after testimony from an FBI agent and an expert on the radical environmental and animal rights movements.

"I'm sure the parents are committed to the son and are fine, upstanding people who would do their part," Nowinski said.

But, he added, "He has betrayed them, he'll betray them again. He's part of a group of ignorant cowards, terrorists who pose a threat to society."

[battlegearboat]

"Throw the elf in irons!"

[1FASTGLOCK45]

I was unable to read the rest. Requires Reg.
But i really liked what i read so far :)
Can we say ChainGang BEOTCH! ! !

[MisterRepublican]

Ryan Lewis (aka ELFDeaniac) is sorely missed by his fellow travelers at Gannon Underground (the web forum formerly known as Democratic Underground).

[AZ_Cowboy]

"He's 21 years old and he's never accomplished anything on his own in his life,..."

That pretty much says it all now, doesn't it?

The only shame of the whole thing is they they probably won't be able to crack the dude and get any info out of him. He'll probably end up with a bunch of easy time weaving baskets somewhere.