SIX ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH NORTHWEST ECO-TERROR ATTACKS
Defendants allegedly tied to fires in Washington and Oregon dating back to 1998
Six people were arrested yesterday in a coordinated law enforcement effort that spanned five states and is the culmination of nine years of investigation. All six people have been indicted by federal grand juries in Oregon or Washington. The charges relate to four separate arsons in the Northwest dating back to 1998, and the destruction of a Bonneville Power Administration tower at the Millennium.
STANISLAS GREGORY MEYERHOFF, 28, was arrested in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he was attending Piedmont Community College. DANIEL GERARD MCGOWAN, 31, was arrested in New York, NY. MEYERHOFF and MCGOWAN were indicted in Oregon, for the January 2, 2001 arson at the Superior Lumber Company, in Glendale, Oregon, and the May 21, 2001, arson at the Jefferson Poplar Farm in Clatskanie, Oregon. The damages in each of those fires exceeded $1 million. MEYERHOFF and MCGOWAN face maximum penalties of life imprisonment if convicted.
KEVIN M. TUBBS, 36, was arrested in Springfield, Oregon, and WILLIAM C. RODGERS, 40, was arrested in Prescott, Arizona. Both men are indicted in the Western District of Washington for the June 21, 1998 arson at the Animal and Plant and Heath Inspection Services (APHIS) facility in Olympia, WA. Damage from this arson was estimated at $1.2 million. Both TUBBS and RODGERS face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted.
SARAH KENDALL HARVEY, 28, was arrested in Flagstaff, Arizona, where she was a student at Northern Arizona University. HARVEY is indicted in Oregon for the December 27, 1998 arson at U.S. Forest Industries in Medford, Oregon. That fire caused an estimated $500,000 in damage. HARVEY faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
CHELSEA DAWN GERLACH, 28, of Portland, Oregon, is charged with two counts related to the December 30, 1999 destruction of a Bonneville Power Administration power transmission tower near Bend, Oregon. GERLACH faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of Destruction of an Energy Facility (Conspiracy) and Destruction of an Energy Facility.
These indictments and arrests were the result of a nine year investigation of numerous arsons in the Northwest and other states. In many of the fires the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and Earth Liberation Front (ELF) claimed responsibility. Participating in the extensive investigation were the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Eugene Police Department, the Portland Police Bureau, the Oregon State Police, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Oregon Department of Justice and the Lane County Sheriff's Office. The investigation is continuing.
An indictment contains allegations that have not yet been proven at trial beyond a reasonable doubt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The defendants are having their initial appearances in the districts where they were arrested. Government prosecutors will ask that they be brought to the districts where the charges are filed for arraignment.
The Western Washington indictments are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Friedman. For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney's Office, Western District of Washington, at (206) 553-4110.
For further information on the Oregon indictments please contact Oregon Criminal Division Chief Kent Robinson at (503) 727-1019.
