Four plead guilty in Oregon ecosabotage case

<http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003382692_webecoterror09.html>http<http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003382692_webecoterror09.html>://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003382692_webecoterror09.html

Four plead guilty in Oregon ecosabotage case

By Jeff Barnard
The Associated Press

EUGENE, Ore. - Four militant environmentalists pleaded guilty to
arson and conspiracy charges today in federal court, part of an
investigation into what federal officials say was an ecosabotage cell
that caused $30 million in damage in fire bombings over five years.

As a result of plea agreements, prosecutors recommended sentences of
five years for one of the four, Jonathan Paul, 40, of Ashland, a
wildland firefighter and animal rights activist.

Sentences of eight years were recommended for the three other
defendants: Nathan Block, 25, of Olympia; Daniel McGowan, 32, of New
York City; and Joyanna Zacher, 28, of Olympia.

Authorities said a Eugene-based group calling itself The Family set
firebombs around the Northwest to stop logging, wild horse roundups,
genetic engineering of plants, sport utility vehicle sales and the
expansion of a Vail, Colo., ski resort into endangered lynx habitat.

The arsons, from 1996 to 2001, were claimed by the Earth Liberation
Front and the Animal Liberation Front.

"I'm hopeful that this will conclude and destroy the arson cells of
the ALF and ELF in the Pacific Northwest," said Assistant U.S.
Attorney Kirk Engdall after a hearing before U.S. District Judge Ann
Aiken.

Sentencing is expected to be scheduled for the spring.

In all, 13 people were indicted out of Eugene. Six had previously
pleaded guilty, and three are fugitives.