Aaron Ellringer pleads guilty in WI actions

Eau Claire man pleads to reduced federal charge

By Kevin Murphy

Leader-Telegram correspondent

MADISON - An Eau Claire man indicted for conspiring to destroy federal tree research and equipment near Rhinelander valued at $500,000 pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to a misdemeanor trespass charge. Aaron Ellringer, 35, admitted to Federal Magistrate Stephen Crocker that in July 2000 he knew the four people he drove in the back of a pickup truck from Eau Claire to a forest road near Rhinelander were "doing something secret," but he didn't know exactly what. After Crocker said that statement wasn't a sufficient confession to a trespass charge, Ellringer admitted to knowing that one of the passengers who asked for a ride, Ian Wallace, was involved in some environmental-related activity. Ellringer also admitted to being in a controlled area without permission. Ellringer didn't appear in court Thursday but testified by phone from Eau Claire, where he is a co-owner of Just Local Food Co-op. He told Crocker he waited in the truck while his passengers disappeared into the night and then radioed him to pick them up. That same night he drove them at least partly back to Eau Claire, Ellringer said. Ellringer had faced maximum penalties of 10 years in prison after being indicted in July for conspiring to destroy government property with Katherine Christianson of Santa Fe, N.M., and Bryan Rivera and Bryan "Rat Dog" Lefey, both of Washington state. Crocker continued Ellringer's release on conditions until his Dec. 9 sentencing, when he faces maximum penalties of six months in jail and a $10,000 fine. Christianson and Rivera's trial is set for Dec. 1. Ellringer's attorney, federal defender Michael Lieberman, said his client never took part in destruction of government property and even a conspiracy charge didn't reflect his participation. "Everyone agreed that this (misdemeanor) was an appropriate resolution, given his involvement in the case," Lieberman said after court. A call to Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Duchemin regarding the government's decision to substitute a misdemeanor for a felony charge wasn't returned before deadline. According to the indictment: Two of the indicted co-conspirators and others planned the attack on the U.S. Forest Service facility in Rhinelander after attending a conference in Tennessee. They believed the facility was an appropriate target because it was performing genetic research on trees, which the group believed was harmful to the natural environment. The conspirators planned the attack in combination with planned protests at the International Society of Animal Geneticists in late July 2000 in Minneapolis. They recruited Ellringer to drive them to Rhinelander the night of July 19, 2000, where they destroyed about 500 research trees using spray paint and etching cream. The group also permanently defaced numerous Forest Service vehicles with references to the Earth Liberation Front. Christianson and an unindicted conspirator later sent a message on behalf of ELF claiming responsibility for the attack on the Rhinelander facility. Murphy is a freelance writer from Madison.