Environment saboteur accused of possessing eagle feathers

Environment saboteur accused of possessing eagle feathers
Dennis Wagner
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 22, 2006 12:00 AM

Rodney Coronado, a convicted Tucson environmental saboteur
facing charges in two criminal cases, has been cited with
new counts alleging that he violated federal laws
protecting birds of prey.

Coronado, the 39-year-old unofficial spokesman for Earth
Liberation Front, was charged by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service this week with possessing eagle feathers.

According to Deb McCarley, a Phoenix FBI spokeswoman,
Coronado is accused of violating the Bald and Golden Eagle
Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. McCarley
had no details on why Coronado may have possessed the
feathers, or how he obtained them.
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The FBI has identified the group as the nation's top
domestic terrorism threat. The organization claims
responsibility for more than 1,000 "eco tage" incidents
designed to protect animals or defend "Mother Earth."

The group's Web site says the underground organization has
no membership, hierarchy or spokesman, although the FBI has
identified Coronado as a national leader.

In February, Coronado was indicted in connection with
giving a 2003 speech on how to make a firebomb just hours
after members of the group reportedly ignited a $50 million
apartment blaze in San Diego, the most expensive act of
eco-terrorism in U.S. history. Coronado previously served
nearly five years in prison for burning down an
animal-testing lab at Michigan State University in 1992.

On Monday, Coronado faces sentencing in U.S. District Court
in Tucson for another conviction, the sabotage of
government efforts to remove mountain lions from Sabino
Canyon.