Just weeks after Earth Liberation Front activists burned down luxury homes in Long Island, New York, Newsday and ABC reported that 17-year-old Jared McIntyre secretly plead guilty to the crime on February 10. McIntyre is reportedly working with authorities in identifying those who helped him commit the arsons.
McIntyre is believed to have been one of four individuals — all juveniles or young adults — responsible for a string of arsons committed in the name of the ELF. In all, nine homes under construction were burned, while there were 10 other incidents of property destruction in New York’s Suffolk County, including the destruction of a field containing genetically modified corn.
As is typical with Animal Liberation Front/Earth Liberation Front crimes, McIntyre was a part of a self-contained cell that committed crimes in the name of the ELF, but likely had no contact with any larger organizational structure. According to news reports, the FBI believes there may be a larger structure to the ELF, but this is likely wishful thinking on the part of the FBI.
McIntyre met his fellow terrorists at an animal rights rally in Port Jefferson, New York, in October 2000. They then downloaded instructions on how to carry out arson from an ELF web site. When McIntyre’s house was searched, police found spray paint and explosives.
McIntyre reached a plea agreement whereby he plead guilty as an adult to a charge of arson rather than risk a trial where he would have likely been charged with constructing bombs, possession of explosives, criminal conspiracy and other crimes. Meanwhile McIntyre’s agreement to plead guilty to adult charge means prosecutors don’t have to go through lengthy hearings trying to move his case from juvenile to adult court.
Source:
Teen guilty of arson. Newsday, February 11, 2001.
A green crusade erupts in flames. Tom Kenworthy, USA Today, February 14, 2001.