Eugene SUV Arsonist Released From Prison

Kristian Foden-Vencil | December 17, 2009 | Portland, OR

Jeff Luers, who was sentenced to more than 22 years for burning SUVs in Eugene, has been released from prison. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.

In 2000, Luers and Craig Marshall set fire to three big cars at a Eugene dealership to protest excessive consumption -- and to make a statement about global warming.

Marshall was sentenced to five and a half years, but because of an earlier conviction for attempted arson, Luers  drew a 22-year 8-month sentence -- longer than some people convicted for murder in Oregon.

After he appealed the sentence, the Lane County Circuit Court reduced it to 10 years. Then in October, the court signed a supplemental judgment reducing his prison time by an additional 30 percent.

Luers was released but then taken back into custody because correction officials had incorrectly assumed he was eligible for early release.

Now he's been released again after serving nearly eight-and-a-half years.

© 2009 OPB

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December 17, 2009
8:44 p.m.
Previous news accounts indicated the vehicles at the Eugene dealership were re-painted and made saleable. A pyromaniac, an apolitical psychiatric case, would have gotten counseling, but anyone making an environmental statement by burning stuff is made into a political prisoner by an excessive sentence. I consider Mr. Luers a former political prisoner.

— Posted by bobbeemurr

January 2, 2010
11:30 a.m.
To the previous comment – is your so called “political prisoner” an expert with fire control? Suppose the fire erupts into a massive/explosive blaze injuring or killing fire fighters … or suppose the damage caused has an effect on the jobs and livelihood of those employed at the dealership … or suppose the neighbors in the area now have to be displaced during the clean-up … do you see where this is going? Civil disobedience is being tolerated with lesser sentences and will continue as a result. It is eroding all that is important; human life, personal property and the freedom to live without fear. Make your protest, it’s your constitutional right to do so, but it is not your right to disavow an acceptable level of respect for life and personal property that protects us as a whole. Radical philosophy should not be tolerated and hefty sentences send a clear message that may discourage those in the fray from committing such acts thereby choosing reasonable opposition) – give it some thought – thanks.

— Posted by mickywithak

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