Member of radical Earth Liberation Front gets 13 years for arson

EUGENE, Ore. -- Declaring that fires set at a police station, an sport utility vehicle dealership and a tree farm were acts of terrorism, a federal judge Wednesday sentenced a member of a radical environmental group to 13 years in prison.

Stanislas Meyerhoff, 29, has admitted to being a member of a Eugene cell of the Earth Liberation Front known as The Family, which was responsible for more than 20 arson fires from 1996 through 2001 in five Western states that caused $40 million in damage.

U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken commended Meyerhoff for having the courage to "do the right thing" by giving authorities information about his fellow arsonists after his arrest.

But Aiken said his efforts to save the Earth by setting fires were misguided and cowardly, and contributed to an unfair characterization of others working legally to protect the environment as radicals.

"It was your intent to scare and frighten other people through a very dangerous and psychological act -- arson," Aiken told Meyerhoff. "Your actions included elements of terrorism to achieve your goal."

Meyerhoff was involved in fires at a Eugene police substation, a Eugene SUV dealership, an Oregon tree farm, federal wild horse corrals in Wyoming and California, and a Vail, Colo., ski resort. He also helped topple a high-voltage transmission line tower in Oregon.

After a member of the cell, Jacob Ferguson, agreed to turn informant and wear a hidden recording device, Meyerhoff and five others were arrested, starting in December 2005. Soon after his arrest, Meyerhoff turned informant as well, which Aiken said resulted in more arrests.

In a statement before being sentenced, Meyerhoff denounced the ELF, saying its goals of promoting a public discussion about stopping practices that harm the Earth actually cut off debate and harmed people.

"I was ignorant of history and economy and acted from a faulty and narrow vision as an ordinary bigot," Meyerhoff said, his voice breaking at times. "A million times over I apologize ... to all of you hardworking business owners, employees, researchers, firemen, investigators, attorneys and all citizens whose property was destroyed, whose holidays were ruined, whose welfare was thwarted, and whose sleep was troubled."

Under federal sentencing guidelines, Aiken said, Meyerhoff was eligible for 30 years to life in prison.

However, prosecutors recommended reducing that to 15 years and eight months because of his cooperation with investigators. Aiken further reduced that to 13 years, noting that Meyerhoff showed courage by naming names and opening himself to retribution.

Defense and prosecution lawyers declined to comment after the sentencing.