Minister Pleads Guilty to Tampering With Witness

The Rev. Dorman Owens pleaded guilty Tuesday to tampering with a witness in the attempted bombing of an abortion clinic here, and the federal government, in return, dropped a multicount indictment against him for conspiring with members of his Bible Missionary Fellowship to bomb the clinic.

Five other church members also pleaded guilty Tuesday to a variety of charges stemming from the case. That left only an associate pastor, Kenneth Felder, to stand trial alone on conspiracy charges.

Prosecutors said they dropped the bombing conspiracy charges against Owens in return for his guilty plea because the witness-tampering charge carries a stiffer penalty. Owens faces a maximum prison sentence of 10 years, a $250,000 fine and a $50 penalty assessment on that charge.

He also pleaded guilty to a second count of knowing about the conspiracy, but not reporting it to officials, and faces three years in prison and an additional $250,000 fine and a $50 penalty. Prosecutors said they would ask only for probation on that charge.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Larry Burns said he will ask that Owens receive a total of 15 to 20 months in prison when he is sentenced May 31.

“I think this is a fair disposition of the case,” Burns said. “We are sending a message to the community that this type of behavior won’t be tolerated.”

However, the fact that Owens was not personally held accountable for the bombing conspiracy drew an immediate sharp reaction from one local women’s clinic director who attended the hearing.

“I don’t think that’s enough time in prison,” said Deborah Fleming of Womancare, one of three clinics that law enforcement officials have said the church members targeted for bombings.

Owens’ attorney, Thomas Warwick, said after the hearing that the Santee pastor was repentant.

“As he says it, he has sinned, and he must atone for that,” Warwick said. “He’s a very, very remorseful man. He wishes this had never happened. And obviously, like the earlier part of his life, the rest of his life will be exemplary.”

Many members of the Bible Missionary Fellowship, headquartered in Santee and with branch churches in Poway and Ramona, have long been active in the anti-abortion movement. Owens and his fundamental Baptist followers have often picketed abortion clinics and various functions and meetings of the homosexual community.

According to law enforcement officials, two of the church members attended an anti-abortion conference in Atlanta last May. When they returned to San Diego, an inner-circle of church members began plotting to bomb three clinics. Meetings were held, both at the church and at Owens’ home in El Cajon. Late-night surveillance of abortion clinics by some church members was conducted, the officials said.

Eric Svelmoe, a church member, was arrested July 27 after placing a pipe bomb at the door of the Family Planning Associates Medical Group on Alvarado Road. The bomb did not detonate.

Svelmoe was later wired for sound by federal authorities so that they could eavesdrop on his jail visit with Owens. He has pleaded guilty in the case and is awaiting sentencing.

Burns said the federal government is continuing the investigation and could bring charges against others involved with the conspiracy.