Posted on 02/24/2006 9:40:02 PM PST by BenLurkin
SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - A radical environmental activist has been indicted by a federal grand jury for demonstrating how to build a firebomb in a speech just 15 hours after a fire that his group claimed responsibility for destroyed a large apartment complex being built nearby.
Rodney Adam Coronado, a 39-year-old member of the Earth Liberation Front, was indicted on a charge of giving instructions on how to build a destructive device, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. The indictment was unsealed on Wednesday.
The law under which he was charged has been used just four other times since it was enacted in 1997, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Shane Harrigan. The law makes it illegal to tell others how to build destructive devices with the intent of having them commit crimes.
"In the speech, Coronado mentioned the fire that had just occurred," Harrigan said. "We have to prove his intent was to have others go out and commit arson."
No one has been charged in the August 1, 2003, early morning fire that did about $50 million in damage to the complex being built in University Town Center, a high technology and business center near the University of California San Diego.
Authorities say the case is still under investigation.
The Earth Liberation Front took responsibility for the fire, leaving a banner at the site and sending an e-mail to a local newspaper.
Coronado has told reporters he showed people how to build a firebomb, which he used to destroy an animal testing facility in Michigan in 1992. He served four years in prison for that arson.
He is in federal custody in Tucson, Arizona, awaiting sentencing after being convicted of going into a public recreation area to disrupt efforts to trap and move mountain lions there.
Three people who attended Coronado's speech were jailed for refusing to testify before the grand jury about the content of the speech. All have been released.
Wups. My apologies. ''Indicted'', not convicted. Roughly 70% chance of conviction (DAs don't like bad odds, right?)
(a) Section 842 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the
end the following new section:
"(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to teach or demonstrate the making of
explosive materials, or to disseminate by any means information pertatining to,
in whole or in part, the manufacture of explosive materials, if the person
intends, knows, or reasonably should know that such explosive materials or
information is likely to be use for, or in furtherance of, a federal offense or
other criminal purpose affecting interstate commerce."
(b) Section 844 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by designating section (a) as subsection (a)(1) and by adding the following new subsection:
"(a)(2) Any person who violates subsection (1) of section 842 of this chapter
shall be fined under this title or imprisoned no more than twenty years, or both."
I don't know how the other cases turned out, but the actual text of the law is more broad than the article suggests.
Pardon my retching, please.
'^)
Thanks, it looks like he was coming on strong with advocacy along with the information.
Thank you both, exactly what I was looking for.
Don't get me wrong. I understand that people who would get violent in order to save owls and trees are dangerous kooks who need to be locked up.
Like Anti-Bubba said, it is hard to believe that there are people who don't know how to make firebombs. I would never make one myself and will not explain how, as it appears you can get into trouble for that. A Google search would probably reveal many more ways than I am familiar with in any event.
That can't be true. ELF would never do something to harm the environment. I understand they are even recycling waste products from the Exxon Valdeez clean up to make their firebombs. --end sarcasm.
Seriously though, I'd be really surprised if more than a small few of the members of ELF really even care about the environment. I have a feeling for most of them, anarchy is the big draw for joining groups like this and committing the acts they do.
Based on this incident and the jailing of the historian who denied the holocaust in Europe, I think we can safely say the muslims were correct regarding free speech. There obviously is no such thing when it suits a govt.
Single terrorist or no, I bet no sane country will let the US manage their ports.
well, American CSX was managing a bunch of overseas ports 2 years ago until this UAE company bought them.
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