Updated Mar 6, 2008 - 7:07 pm
Briana Waters Guilty of Arson in Ecoterror Trial
Comments (0)
Print this
E-mail this
Tweet this
digg this
710 KIRO Reporter
Listen to this reportA federal jury has convicted a former Olympia woman for her role in the multi-million dollar arson that destroyed a University of Washington research building in 2001.
Other defendants took plea deals and co-operated with prosecutors, but 32-year-old Briana Waters, now of Oakland, went to trial, taking the witness stand to deny guilt.
The pre-dawn fire destroyed the Center for Urban Horticulture and with it, years of research. The arson was blamed on a group of eco-terrorists whom federal investigators claim are responsible for a string of destructive arsons across the west.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Bartlett, offered evidence that the violin teacher was the look-out and two co-defendants fingered her. Bartlett says they're thrilled with the verdict. It was a long investigation and they're happy that Ms. Waters and all the people involved in the arson have been held accountable.
The jury was deadlocked on two serious charges against Waters, including one that carries a mandatory 30-year minimum prison term. Bartlett says Waters will go to jail for at least 5 years, but believes it will be for longer.
Defense attorney Robert Bloom, thinks the jury was poisoned. He says he attributes it to an atmosphere of fear that was created partly by the Street of Dreams fire.
Before the jury arrived for its second day of deliberations in Tacoma, arsonists torched a group of model homes in Snohomish County, an attack that might also be the work of eco-terrorists.
Prosecutor Bartlett notes the jury deadlocked on three of five charges and argues the Street of Dreams arsons were not a factor. Bartlett says, if, in fact, there had been an impact on the jury from the Street of Dreams arsons, he assumes they would have had convictions on all accounts.
Bartlett concedes the timing of the luxury home arsons might not be a coincidence. He says he'd like to say he was really surprised, but he wasn't at all. The last major trial involving this group occurred in Oregon State court in 2001. He says at the beginning of that trial there was an arson at the same Chevrolet Dealership that was the subject of the arson.
Bartlett calls this week's arsons an act of desperation. He says the eco-terrorists are so desperate to show that they're viable that they will do virtually anything. He says it almost appears to be a last ditch effort to show they're a viable terrorist organization when, in fact, they're just pathetic.
The mother of a 3-year-old girl was out of custody during her trial and her attorney argued to keep Waters free. Bloom says the fact that she appeared in court knowing that there was at least one verdict, speaks to the fact that she's not a flight risk. But the prosecutor called Waters an integral part of the University of Washington arson. Bartlett says when someone does this and faces a 5-year mandatory minimum sentence, she's at risk for flight.
Sentencing is set for May 30th.
Defense attorney Bloom says he's heartbroken and knows Waters didn't commit this crime. Bloom plans to pursue several avenues of appeal, including the impact of the Street of Dreams arsons.
- WA Lottery
- Man dies after fight with deputies in Gold Bar
- Police shoot man with assault rifle in West Seattle
- Hostage doused in kerosene in Kent
- Man shot by 2 police officers in Tacoma
- Bellevue couple sentenced for starving baby
- Attorneys for WA death row inmate seek stay
- Health Department detains tuberculosis patient
- Washington cleared to release most ballot petitions
- 5 indicted in Bangor trespass case
