Wrongly Convicted Database Record

 

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Greg Boertje-Obed

 

Charge:

National Security violation (Incld. Sabotage Act)

Sentence:

5 years 2 months

Years Imprisoned:

2

Year Crime:

2012

Year Convicted:

2013

Year Cleared:

2015

U.S. State or Country of Crime:

Tennessee - Federal Case

County or Region of Crime:

Anderson and Roane

City of Crime:

Oak Ridge

Result:

Judicially Exonerated

Summary of Case:

"Sister Megan Rice, Michael Walli and Greg Boertje-Obed were wrongly convicted in May 2013 of endangering national security by violating the federal Sabotage Act. In July 2012 the three cut through several fences to break into the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Once inside the trio hung banners, prayed, and hammered on the outside wall of the bunker to symbolize a Bible passage that refers to the end of war: "They will beat their swords into ploughshares." A jury convicted the three of the Sabotage Act and injuring public property by cutting the fence. In February 2014 Rice was sentenced to 35 months in federal prison, and Walli and Boertje-Obed were each sentenced to 62 months in prison. The three were also sentenced to serve three years of supervised release after completing their prison sentences. On May 8, 2015 the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the Sabotage Act convictions of Rice, on the basis the prosecution introduced insufficient evidence to establish they had criminal intent. The ruling bars their retrial. The Court let stand their lesser conviction of injuring public property, and the three were expected to be sentenced to time served. On June 22, 2015 the U.S. Attorney's Office announced it would not seek an en banc hearing of the ruling before the full appeals court."

Conviction Caused By:

Innocence Proved By:

"On May 8, 2015 the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the Sabotage Act convictions of Rice, on the basis the prosecution introduced insufficient evidence to establish they had criminal intent. The ruling bars their retrial."

Defendant Aided By:

Compensation Awarded:

Was Perpetrator Identified?

Age When Imprisoned:

58

Age When Released:

60

Sex:

Male

Skin/Ethnicity:

White

Information Source 1:

"USA v. Megan Rice, No. 14-5221 (6th Cir. Ct. of Appeals, 5-8-2015) (Vacating Sabotage Act convictions based on lack of intent)"

Information Location 1:

http://www.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/15a0086p-06.pdf

Information Source 2:

"Sabotage Conviction Overturned Against Nun, Fellow Activists, By Travis Loller (Associated Press, Nashville, Tenn.), May 8, 2015"

Information Location 2:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/sabotage-conviction-overturned-nun-fellow-activists-30905660

Information Source 3:

"3 peace activists sentenced for breaking into nuclear site, By Dan Zak, The Washington Post, February 18, 2014"

Information Location 3:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/3-peace-activists-sentenced-for-breaking-into-nuclear-site/2014/02/18/13a6bb7a-9815-11e3-afce-3e7c922ef31e_story.html

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Innocents Database Created and Maintained by Hans Sherrer innocents@forejustice.org

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