[Ppnews] Eco-justice activist released on bond

[Political Prisoner News]

Ecoterror suspect released on bond
By LARRY HENDRICKS
Sun Staff Reporter
01/18/2006

After a delay of nearly a month, a Flagstaff woman accused of being 
connected with the 1998 firebombing of a logging company in Oregon 
has been released from jail.

Kendall Tankersley, 28, also known as Sarah Harvey, was released from 
an Oregon jail Jan. 10 on $150,000 bond. She is back in Flagstaff, 
ready to begin taking two classes at Northern Arizona University.

Tankersley, a former employee at the university, was indicted in 
November by a federal grand jury in Oregon. She is accused of 
attempted arson and arson, acting as a lookout, in connection with a 
fire at U.S. Forest Industries in Medford, Ore., in December 1998. 
The fire caused an estimated $500,000 in damage.

She has been accused by prosecutors of being a member of the Earth 
Liberation Front at the time of the arson. She was one of six people 
arrested around the country in connection with acts of ecoterrorism.

She is scheduled to undergo an arraignment in U.S. District Court in 
Eugene, Ore., on Monday.

Calls placed to Tankersley's home in Flagstaff were not immediately 
returned Tuesday.

Lee D. Foreman, Denver-based attorney for Tankersley, said that his 
client will enter innocent pleas to the charges.

"Obviously, she's very pleased to be out of jail," Foreman said.

During her release hearing in Oregon, Freeman said the court 
determined that Tankersley is not a flight risk, nor is she a danger 
to the community. She is not under house arrest, but she has to 
report to pretrial services in Oregon on a periodic basis.

At some point, her case could be transferred to the Flagstaff 
pretrial services, Foreman added.

Tom Bauer, spokesperson for Northern Arizona University, said that 
Tankersley has enrolled in two classes this semester. She is no 
longer an employee of the university, Bauer said, adding that he was 
unable to comment further.

During her court hearings in Flagstaff, testimony revealed that 
Tankersley is planning to apply to medical school in Tucson in order 
to become a public health physician.

Will she continue her studies?

"I think she'd certainly like to, but I think until we get these 
issues resolved, it will be difficult," Foreman said. "But we're 
optimistic and we're hopeful to get this situation resolved and get 
her back on track."

During a hearing Dec. 16 in Flagstaff, U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark 
Aspey ordered that Tankersley could be released from jail provided 
she surrender all of her assets, about $150,000. Aspey said his 
reason for setting the bond at that amount was to ensure that 
Tankersley could not flee the country if she decided to do so.

To post bond, Tankersley liquidated all of her stocks, drained her 
bank account and took out a loan on her house and cars.

Aspey ordered Tankersley to be released to her domestic partner, who 
lives and works in Flagstaff. Tankersley's mother will be responsible 
for getting her to all court appearances in Oregon.

Tankersley's release was postponed after federal prosecutors in 
Oregon filed a motion to stay her release. The motion was filed prior 
to Aspey ordering Tankersley's release. The motion contained 
additional allegations not mentioned in the Flagstaff court.

Aspey released Tankersley, then immediately stayed his order. He then 
turned the case over to the Oregon court.

Tankersley has a degree in molecular biology and has worked for 
Planned Parenthood and other social service organizations.

The charges she faces carry a maximum penalty upon conviction of 20 
years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Larry Hendricks can be reached at lhendricks at azdailysun.com or 556-2262.

<http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=123221>http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=123221

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