Judge unseals arson charges.Byline: Bill Bishop The Register-Guard After three years sealed under court order, charges have been made public against the man who apparently participated in at least a dozen arsons for environmental causes and then worked undercover for investigators who brought down the largest eco-arson ring in the nation. Jacob Jeremiah Ferguson, 34, is charged with one count each of attempted arson and arson stemming from the first of at least 20 attacks in five states by a group that became known as "The Family." Court records indicate that Ferguson made a deal to cooperate with prosecutors in order to avoid jail. No date has been set for his appearance in federal court in Eugene. U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken Ann L. Aiken (born December 29, 1951) is a United States District Court judge for the District of Oregon. Aiken was born in Salem, Oregon and graduated from the University of Oregon in 1974, Rutgers University in 1976, and the University of Oregon School of Law in 1979. unsealed the charges Tuesday at the request of federal prosecutors who said secrecy no longer is needed, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. court records. Last month, Aiken completed the sentencings of 10 core members of the arson conspiracy. They received prison terms ranging from just over three years to 13 years. Three less-active conspirators CONSPIRATORS. Persons guilty of a conspiracy. See 3 Bl. Com. 126-71 Wils. Rep. 210-11. See Conspiracy. face charges in Washington state. Four other suspects are fugitives. According to court documents and statements made in court, Ferguson began wearing a recording device in 2004 to capture incriminating in·crim·i·nate tr.v. in·crim·i·nat·ed, in·crim·i·nat·ing, in·crim·i·nates 1. To accuse of a crime or other wrongful act. 2. conversations with eight of his former arson partners. As a result, he was reviled as a "snitch snitch Slang v. snitched, snitch·ing, snitch·es v.tr. To steal (something, usually something of little value); pilfer. See Synonyms at steal. v.intr. " on Internet sites devoted to radical environmental activism. Ferguson, according to court records, took part as many as 14 of the group's crimes - including the destruction of the Oakridge Ranger Station in 1996, the Cavel West horsemeat packing plant packing plant a complete meat production unit including facilities for slaughtering animals, processing of meat and offal, boning out, making up of blocks of carcasses, chilling, freezing, storing of the meat, preparation of by-products. in Redmond in 1997, the U.S. Forest Industries office in Medford in 1998, the Childers Meat Co. in Eugene in 1999, and the Superior Lumber lumber, term for timber that has been cut into boards for use as a building material. The major steps in producing lumber involve logging (the felling and preparation of timber for shipment to sawmills), sawing the logs into boards, grading the boards according to Co. in Glendale in 2001. Court records indicate that Ferguson was an enthusiastic participant in The Family's arsons, traveling widely in Western states to scope out potential targets for attack. Police apparently believed - as it turned out incorrectly - that Ferguson was involved in the arson of 35 SUVs at the former Romania truck dealership in Eugene in 2001. Under pressure from that investigation, Ferguson evidently agreed to cooperate. He is charged in connection with an attempted arson of the Detroit Ranger Station on Oct. 28, 1996, in which an incendiary device a device designed to set a structure on fire; a firebomb. See also: Incendiary failed to ignite, and arson of a pickup truck that was destroyed at the ranger station. His case is expected to resolve with a court hearing to enter a guilty plea and have the probationary sentence imposed. |
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