Earth First! Activists Defend Mountain Lions in Court : AZ IMC

Arizona Earth First! activists Rod Coronado and Matt Crozier each face two felony charges this week as the trial begins for their involvement in the Sabino Canyon mountain lion hunt sabotage in March 2004.

In March and April 2004, Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) carried out a mountain lion hunt in Sabino Canyon, claiming that lions in the area were displaying “aggressive, abnormal, and fearless behavior” towards hikers.

Earth First!, the Center for Biological Diversity, and other local environmental and animal rights’ groups publicly argued against the mountain lion hunt, claiming that AGFD did not have proof that humans, or domestic animals were in danger. The groups blamed the increased interaction between humans and mountain lions on loss of habitat from the Aspen fire and the uncontrolled urban sprawl into the foothills of the Santa Catalina mountains.

Many felt that the perceived threat of mountain lions in Tucson’s most popular recreation area had the U.S. Forest Service worried about losing money in entrance fees.

The hunt was extremely unpopular with the Tucson public, and even after AGFD agreed to “only” imprison the lions for life instead of killing them, more than 60 percent of the public was still opposed. Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano spoke out against the hunt.

EF! activists used traditional hunt sabotaging techniques to interfere with the lion hunt, including disabling snares and ground sensors and throwing dogs off by spreading mountain lion urine. They also filmed AGFD officers and helicopters and released footage to the media.

Coronado was arrested March 24, 2004, along with Esquire Magazine writer John H. Richardson, who had gone undercover with EF! activist to report on their hunt sabotage activities. Crozier was arrested later, when FBI officials came to his home in Prescott.

At the end of the mountain lion hunts that year, two lions had been killed by AGFD and one, named “Sabino,” had been captured.

At first, Coronado and Crozier faced two federal misdemeanor theft charges. In November 2004 after a secret Grand Jury investigation, they were indicted on an additional charge, felony conspiracy to impede or injure an officer.

No officers were injured in the hunt.

Then again, on December 1, 2005, the three men’s charges were changed after it was determined the Deputy Forest Supervisor did not have the authority to close the Sabino Canyon portion of the Coronado National Forest during the mountain lion hunt.

This week, Coronado and Crozier face three charges:
- Felony conspiracy to interfere with or injure a federal official (or his property): 6-year maximum sentence
- Misdemeanor interference with or injury of a federal official (or his property): 6-month maximum sentence
- Petty theft or destruction of government property (valued at less than $1000)

The new indictment claims that while the Coronado National Forest was not officially closed, the two activists and the journalist believed it was and thus trespassed several times.

The federal government will argue that the activists, including Coronado and Crozier, planned to go to Sabino Canyon to interview with the hunt, the indictment said.

KVOA, a local Tucson news station reported on December 2 that “All three men allegedly threatened, resisted, intimidated and interfered with U.S. Forest Service officers by photographing and videotaping them and releasing the materials to the media.” To read the story, visit. http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=4193517.

Jeff, Arizona Earth First! spokesperson, said that Earth First! will not be intimidated by the government’s aggressive prosecution, and will continue to fight AGFD’s policies on wildlife management. The group wants to remind Tucson that the captured lioness “Sabino” still remains imprisoned in a Scottsdale wildlife park.

Coronado stands behind his plea bargain offer that if AGFD releases Sabino back into the wild, he will plead guilty to minor charges.

The jury trial is expected to run from December 6 – 9, with a verdict announced Friday afternoon. The trial will take place in the Evo A. DeConcini Federal Courthouse, 405 West Congress Street.

A benefit for Arizona Earth First! will take place Thursday, December 8, at the Dry River Infoshop, 657 West St. Mary’s Road at 7pm. Updates on the trial will be announced.

See Arizona Earth First! Website: http://www.azef.org