Darren Thurston was escorted back to Canada and arrived at Vancover International airport on November 21st. He had been in the deporation process since his official release back in August.

At approx. 2pm PST, an FBI agent posing as neighbor knocked at the door of a home in Oceanside CA, lured a Santa Cruz resident from his mother's house, and arrested him. The only known charge at this point is felony perjury. He is being held on $100,000 bond. The person arrested is a resident of the house on Riverside Ave. in Santa Cruz that has been raided twice in the past 6 months, most recently immediately following the attempted arson of a vivisector's home several weeks ago.

After arresting the person, the FBI attempted to question his mother and friend, unsuccessfully. The FBI told the arrestees mother he is being transferred to the Vista jail, and will be extradited to Santa Cruz Tuesday.

While a charge of "perjury" would indicate there were statements / testimony given to the FBI by the defendant at some point, it is speculated perjury here *may* refer to some minor name discrepancy (such as a person having received a recent legal name change, or legitimately going by a middle name in place of one's legal last name, etc), and that this is a flimsy pretext to take this person into custody.

The following was received by someone close to the situation.

It is not known if the arrestees vegan diet is being accommodated, but as a pre-emptive move they are asking people to call the jail:

CALL VISTA JAIL!!! demand vegan food SUPPORT NATHAN POPE

NATHAN POPE, arrested under the name NATHAN CHRISTOPHER KNOERL (he has two legal last names b/c of step dad) was arrested in Oceanside, California today. The F.B.I. arrived with an arrest warrant and the warrant says something about FELONY/PERJURY and is an arrest warrant from Santa Cruz. $100,000 dollars bail.

CASE NO.
F17048
DEPT #3
He will be extradited to Santa Cruz on/or by Tuesday.

PLEASE CALL Vista Detention Facility (760) 940-4473
-DEMAND VEGAN FOOD FOR NATHAN KNOERL/POPE !!!

TRE ARROW HAS BEEN MOVED

Tre has been moved to Sheridan Prison. He is currently in their Federal Detention Center (FDC). Eventually he will move to Sheridan's Federal Correctional Institute (FCI), where he will serve his time. If you would like to write to Tre, you may do so at the address below. We will let you know when he is moved and what his new address will be. Remember that all correspondences are read and copied. Tre would love to hear from you!

Tre Arrow #70936-065
Sheridan Federal Detention Center
P.O. Box 6000
Sheridan, OR 07378

TRE'S LATEST - CALLOUT August 13th, 2008

Yesterday, Tuesday August 12th, 2008 I was sentenced to 78 months in Federal Prison for two counts of arson. I plead guilty to these charges to avoid going to trial and possibly spending the rest of my life behind bars if found guilty. I want to reiterate very clearly that this was a non cooperation plea agreement, wherein I didn't give any information to the government about anyone or any action in order to receive this sentence. Unlike the three other defendants in this case I have not snitched on anyone. They received a 41 month sentence because they implicated me and cooperated fully with the government.If you wish to review the proceedings of any of my hearings you can do so at your convenience. These are public documents and available to anyone.

As for the sentencing hearing, once again I am humbled with the deepest gratitude to all my family (blood and extended) who were present in the courtroom. I gave a statement to the judge explaining my deep passion and commitment to helping save what is left of this precious planet. I certainly would love to see the government and its prosecutors demonstrate the same tenacity towards greedy corporations as they have directed towards peaceful activists. We owe it to our children and all future generations to do what we can to protect the forests, air, water, soil, and wildlife from greed and pollution. I will continue to be a voice for this planet in any way I can.

http://www.trearrow.org

Yesterday well known American eco-activist, Tre Arrow, pleaded guilty to two counts of arson. In exchange for his Guilty plea Tre is expected to be sentenced to six and a half years imprisonment. However the court will also acknowledge the four years he has already served on remand, in Canada, fighting his extradition to the USA.

news stories below:

here's the statement from eric's support committee:

Yesterday was a difficult day. We all knew what Eric was facing, and we understood the vehemence with which the government was pursuing this case. But nothing could ever fully prepare us for the kind of heinous sentence that Eric received. It is clear from the reports in the media and the statements made by the US Attorneys that Eric was entrapped and used as an example to anyone who dares to dream of how things could be different in this world.

Last Friday I was officially transported back to prison. So, I guess this is the beginning of the end. And what a beginning it has been.

This is how it started.

I met with my intake counselor last Monday. This is the person who decides what my custody level is, and what types of programs (i.e. anger management) if any I need to take. In short, the counselor sets the stage.

from the eric mcdavid support committee:

It looks as if Eric's sentencing is getting pushed back once again. It is currently on the court's calendar for this Thursday, April 10, but we expect it to be pushed back at least a week. Please stay tuned - we'll let you know as soon as we have a new date. Our thanks to everyone forsticking with us through all the frustration and delays. Please keep Eric in your thoughts as we enter this difficult phase.

public statement from jeff luers released by his support committee:

What a long and strange journey this past year has been. I have been riding highs and lows as I have been struggling to regain my freedom and find a balance between my desires for this movement and my own personal happiness.

from the elp folks:

ELP has just learnt that the American prisoner, Briana Waters', attempt to be released today, prior to her sentencing later on this year, has failed. This means she will remain within prison.

Briana Waters 36432-086
FDC - Seatac
Federal Detention Center
P.O. Box 13900
Seattle,
WA 98198
USA

Please remember, despite having been found guilty of her alleged involvement in an ELF action Briana maintains her innocence and is intending to appeal against her conviction. ELP regards Briana to be the victim of a miscarriage of justice.

briana waters is currently in holding pending sentencing. her address is:

Briana Waters
36432-086
FDC SeaTac
PO Box 13900
Seattle WA 98198

write her!

from sacramento prisoner support:

Yesterday Eric finally had his hearing on the motion for judgment of acquittal and the motion for a new trial. These motions were heard by the same judge who presided over Eric's trial, which was fraught with errors and improper rulings and instructions. Not surprisingly, both of Eric's motions were denied.

from an unattributed news source:

A federal jury found that Briana Waters, a former Olympia resident, was among a group of ecosaboteurs who torched the center in the predawn hours of May 21, 2001, causing about $1.5 million in damage. The center was later rebuilt at a cost of about $7 million.

Prosecutors urged the judge to accept whatever verdicts had been reached, but Burgess refused and sent the jury home Wednesday night. Burgess this morning agreed to accept the partial verdict.

oregon live has an article on tre arrow and briana waters. arrow's trial date has been set for may 6.

Tre Arrow appeared for the first time in a U.S. courtroom Monday to answer government charges that he firebombed logging and concrete-mixing trucks in the spring of 2001, acts of eco-sabotage that rocked the region.

The 34-year-old former fugitive, appearing beefier than in his days as one of Oregon's most flamboyant environmental activists, pleaded not guilty in Portland's U.S. District Court to an indictment accusing him of arson, conspiracy and use of destructive devices as an Earth Liberation Front saboteur.