PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Rebecca Rubin, who apologized for acts of eco-terrorism committed between 1996 and 2001, was given a five-year prison sentence in Portland, Ore., federal court.
Rubin, 40, spoke of her passion for environmentalism and protection of animals to Chief U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken Monday, explaining her involvement in arson attacks on behalf of the Earth Liberation Front and Animal Liberation Front, Rubin admitted her good-versus-evil perspective was "neither accurate nor constructive."
Although there were no deaths in the incidents, the group known as The Family, which included Rubin, is believed responsible for $40 million in property damage.
Rubin voluntarily surrendered to authorities in 2012, and pleaded guilty in October to arson, attempted arson and conspiracy to commit arson in four distinct incidents.
In Nov. 1998 she freed 400 wild horses from a federal land management corral in Oregon as others set the property on fire;
In Oct. 1998 she brought gasoline to a ski resort under construction in Vail, Colo., which has later used to ignite fires that destroyed the ski complex;
In Dec. 1998 she brought incendiary devices to the Medford, Ore., office of U.S. Forest Industries, which were later used in an arson fire;
In 2001 she freed wild horses from a California ranch as colleagues set fire to a barn.
Monday Judge Aiken instructed Rubin, after her release, to share her experiences with young people who may be vulnerable to adopting extreme tactics in promoting their beliefs.
Rubin will also be on probation after she leaves prison, and must make monthly payments toward a restitution bill of over $13 million, the (Portland) Oregonian reported Tuesday.
