Arsonist Gets 7 Years for Clinic Blazes

A 60-year-old activist described as a “serial abortion clinic arsonist” was sentenced to seven years in prison Tuesday for attacks against seven family planning clinics in the western United States.

Richard T. Andrews, of Wenatchee, Wash., was ordered to pay $3,600 in restitution to the clinics, which suffered losses totaling more than $1 million from the attacks.

“The sentence in this case should serve as a reminder to those who would resort to terrorism as a form of political advocacy that such conduct will not go unpunished,” said U.S. Atty. Paul Seave.

Andrews pleaded guilty to eight counts of arson stemming from the attacks, two of which targeted the same clinic, committed between 1992 and 1995. His sentence was the result of a plea agreement.

Andrews received an 81-month prison term followed by three years of supervised release with the conditions that he stay at least 150 yards away from any facility where abortions are performed.