UW arson-case jurors say they've reached verdicts on some counts

Wednesday, March 5, 2008 - Page updated at 06:41 PM

By Mike Carter

Seattle Times staff reporter

TACOMA — Jurors deliberating the fate of a California woman accused of
participating in the 2001 arson at the University of Washington have
reached a unanimous verdict on some of the five federal charges.

The jury in U.S. District Court indicated Wednesday afternoon that it had
reached verdicts on some of the counts against Briana Waters, but may be
deadlocked on others. It was not revealed which charges they had agreed
on, or whether she had been convicted or acquitted on those charges. The
jury will reconvene tomorrow morning.

U.S. District Court Judge Franklin Burgess overruled prosecutors' request
that the court accept a "partial verdict," which would allow them to
publish the decisions they had already decided upon unanimously. Burgess
ordered the jury to continue deliberation Thursday. It's unclear when or
if the jury will reach a unanimous verdict on all five charges.

Waters, 32, Oakland, faces a mandatory minimum of 35 years in prison if
convicted of conspiracy, two counts of arson, and use and possession of a
destructive device.

The fire, which destroyed the university's Center for Urban Horticulture,
was one of at least 17 fires set by radical activists with the Earth
Liberation Front and the Animal Liberation Front from 1996 to 2001.

The jury has been deliberating since Friday afternoon.

Mike Carter: 206-464-3706 or mcarter@seattletimes.com