Posted on 04/01/2006 6:23:44 PM PST by wjersey
A mother that gives violin lessons will face trial in the northwestern US state of Washington on charges she was an environmental terrorist, prosecutors said.
Briana Waters, 30, of the famously liberal California city of Berkeley, has pleaded innocent in a Seattle federal court that she that fire bombed a horticulture center in 2001.
A US district court judge allowed Waters to remain free pending the start of her trial in June, but ordered that she turn in her passport and have her whereabouts monitored electronically.
Waters was the first person charged in connection with an attack that destroyed the Center for Urban Horticulture at the University of Washington in May of 2001, according to Emily Langlie of the US Attorney's Office.
The fire was one of a series of arson attacks in the Pacific west that police believe were committed by militant environmental activists linked to the Earth Liberation Front and the Animal Liberation Front.
"This is just one step as we attempt to bring to justice those responsible for the UW Urban Horticulture fire," said John McKay, United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington.
"As we move toward the five-year anniversary of that devastating blaze, I applaud the investigators who have worked so doggedly and diligently to put the pieces of the puzzle together."
Federal prosecutors indicted 13 people last year in connection with arsons branded as "domestic terror."
Two of those people were part of "an overarching conspiracy" to fire bomb the horticulture center, prosecutors said.
A mother and a self-employed violin teacher, Waters' background included being a "tree-sitter" who perched in branches to save ancient trees from logging.
Waters would face a mandatory minimum punishment of 35 years in prison if convicted as charged with arson and using a destructive device to commit a violent crime.
I'm wondering what her violin lessons have to do with anything. (Aside from attempting to paint her as a loving woman who teaches children the finer things in life)
What do the envirowhackos have against urban horticulture? You'd think they might be in favor of a little greenery in the city. Loony tunes!
Mother mentioned. Husband? Unmentioned. Pictures? Guess I'll go peruse the Seattle Times.
Assuming that she is guilty (a fact very much not in evidence), I wonder if she regrets her misspent youth?
Does she play a violin made out of wood?
Im sure its just another one of those misunderstandings...
L
They should also investigate this beeyatch for the land/forest fire that broke out after Ahrnold Schwarzenegger was elected Governor, if anyone remembers. Domestic terrorists like this don`t like it when politicians that do tremendous damage to the people like Gray Davis are removed, so they act like babies and damage things to get even.
You're right about the lack of evidence. At least the story isn't saying much.
Is he wearing a purse!?
Briana Waters enters the federal courthouse in Seattle Thursday with her daughter and husband. Waters was charged with helping set a fire at the UW's horticulture center in 2001. (March 31, 2006) Credit: Joshua Trujillo/Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Same thing being a member of the PTA had to do with Sara Jane Olson.
It is suppose to make us say, "Aw I am sure they didn't mean it."
It's a "boy bag".
Well, well, well....
I'm not surprised.
Good. Her prospective cellmates can teach her lots of new uses for her violin bow.
Now it looks like she'll have to worry about bushes coming after her.
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