A Moorhead man who describes himself as an anarchist will spend 43 months in prison for setting fire to a Moorhead construction site in March.
Clay County District Court Judge Galen Vaa imposed the sentence Monday on James Ronald Tucker, 33.
In a plea bargain with the Clay County attorney's office, Tucker pleaded guilty Sept. 12 to second-degree arson.
Vaa also revoked Tucker's probation Monday on an earlier conviction for terroristic threats. Tucker was charged with that after he threatened to put a gun to the head of a taxi driver in August 2004. He will serve 21 months in prison on that charge, to run concurrently with the arson sentence.
During Monday's sentencing hearing, Tucker said he originally intended to read a statement, but decided against it.
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"On behalf of the Earth Liberation Front and myself, thank you," he said to Vaa. "I really don't feel what I did was wrong."
He said his act was a reaction to "corporate capitalism."
The Earth Liberation Front is described by its detractors as an ecological terrorist group and by its supporters as an ecological defense group. A Web site, www.earthliberationfront.com , says, the Earth Liberation Front "is an underground movement with no leadership, membership or official spokesperson."
Vaa said that while some of Tucker's beliefs might have merit, "the way you went about trying to correct what you believe is an injustice is, under the law, totally wrong."
Vaa also discussed taking restitution for the terroristic threats charge out of any money Tucker earns in prison.
"I don't plan on working," Tucker replied.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Tom Pantera at (701) 241-5541
