Skinhead Leader Pleads Guilty to Violence, Plot

Christopher David Fisher, the leader of a group of violent young skinheads, admitted Tuesday that he plotted to launch a race war with attacks on a Southern California church and synagogues, pleading guilty to charges that could land him in prison for 10 years.

As part of his plea agreement with the government, Fisher, 20, agreed to cooperate with authorities as they continue their inquiry into Southern California white supremacists, and he promised to undergo counseling. The Simon Wiesenthal Center has agreed to provide that counseling and is designing a program that will introduce Fisher to psychologists and Holocaust survivors, as well as attempting to arrange for him to tour the center’s highly acclaimed Museum of Tolerance.

“Going to jail is one thing,” said Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean of the center. “What rehabilitates is new attitudes.”

In return for Fisher’s guilty pleas to two counts of the indictment against him, federal prosecutors agreed to drop several other charges. Prosecutors and Fisher’s lawyer agreed to recommend that a 10-year sentence in federal prison would be “appropriate,” but U.S. District Judge William Matthew Byrne Jr. is not bound by that agreement and could impose a different sentence.

Fisher pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of exploding a pipe bomb at a Paramount house. The charges that were dropped included a variety of weapons offenses, as well as one count related to a pipe bomb attack on a Lakewood home.

Fisher’s guilty pleas were welcomed by law enforcement leaders, who arrested Fisher and other alleged white supremacists amid national attention on July 15. At the time, federal authorities accused Fisher of leading a group known as the Fourth Reich Skinheads. Investigators said the group had planned to spark a race war by murdering Rodney G. King and attacking the First African Methodist Episcopal Church, the oldest and best-known African-American church in Los Angeles.

“The defendant’s decision to plead guilty is a promising first step in addressing and eliminating the evil acts of violent and racist hatemongers like the Fourth Reich Skinheads,” U.S. Atty. Terree A. Bowers said. “We must combat violence and racism at all levels through aggressive prosecutions, as well as through education and counseling.”

Charlie J. Parsons, special agent in charge of the Los Angeles FBI office, commended the agents who oversaw the investigation, which resulted in eight other arrests.

“Today’s guilty pleas, as well as the verdicts and pleas that preceded them, represent another milestone in this disturbing yet successful case,” he said.

Fisher and two juveniles arrested as part of the federal probe were said to be members of the Fourth Reich Skinheads. The other six who were arrested were charged with weapons violations but not with plotting hate crimes. A San Fernando Valley couple were convicted of weapons charges, while a third suspect charged with them pleaded guilty. Charges are pending against three Orange County defendants.

In court Tuesday afternoon, Fisher choked back tears as Byrne questioned him about his role in the skinhead group. For more than half an hour, Fisher stood with his hands thrust deep in his pockets, politely responding to sometimes pointed questions from the judge.

Fisher acknowledged that he and other white supremacists bombed two homes and a car, vandalized a Westminster synagogue and plotted to attack the First AME Church as well as other targets, including prominent members of the Orange County Jewish community. Most of the attacks were motivated by racial hatred, Fisher said.

“Have you heard the term ‘white supremacist?’ ” Byrne asked Fisher.

“Yes,” Fisher responded.

“Would that describe your views?” Byrne asked.

“At that time, yes,” Fisher said.

At times, Fisher struggled for words, stumbling as he tried to explain his hatred for Jews and minorities. Occasionally, he paused and took a deep breath, sipping water from a cup.

Fisher said he first met one of the juvenile suspects through a hot line that members of the Fourth Reich Skinheads established. The two met at an Orange County mall to discuss their views and found that they had much in common, at least with regard to what Fisher called “problems with race relations.”

Asked to explain what the problems were, Fisher responded: “Sometimes whites were picked on because of the color of their skin. . . . Maybe we’re blamed for slavery.”

Fisher said that he and the juvenile suspect initially decided to produce propaganda reflecting their racial views. Only later, in late 1992, did they begin committing acts of violence, he said.

That suspect, Carl Daniel Boese, 17, of Lake Arrowhead, had been expected to enter a plea Tuesday as well. Technical details regarding his case prevented him from taking that step.

Because he is a juvenile, Boese is not identified in court records. But friends and family have identified him.

As Fisher described the planning for the attack on the First AME Church, he rejected the contention--advanced by other members of the Fourth Reich Skinheads--that federal agents first suggested the idea.

“Who brought it up?” Byrne asked.

“I’m not sure,” Fisher said.

“Was it the agent?” the judge asked.

“No, it was one of the juveniles,” Fisher responded.

Fisher’s parents listened intently as their son admitted his participation in the skinhead group and its violent acts.

Fisher’s lawyer, Anna Ho, said her client was relieved to admit his guilt and get on with his life.

“I think he’s glad it’s over to a certain extent,” Ho said. “He feels like during this time (that the crimes were committed) he was on drugs, even though he opposes and doesn’t use any drugs or alcohol. It was like a poison that he had to get rid of.”

Ho said Fisher had already renounced his white supremacist views and was eager to begin counseling. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Fisher agreed to accept “all reasonable treatment and counseling which may be recommended” by the U.S. attorney’s office.

Marc R. Greenberg, the lead prosecutor in the case, said he suggested that counseling be included in the agreement because he was concerned that prison would not address the views that led Fisher to endorse violence.

“If we don’t do something to try to address that, 10 years from now he will emerge with the same views, maybe even more hardened,” Greenberg said. “Hopefully, this will give him a dose of reality.”

Hier said the Wiesenthal Center was eager to help when Greenberg suggested the idea of counseling.

“We said: ‘Great idea,’ ” Hier said. “Through this, we can confront him with the consequences of hatred.”