Anti-Vietnam War Activist’s 28-Year Flight Ends in Guilty Plea

An anti-Vietnam War activist whose criminal past was uncovered when he ran for a suburban City Council seat pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges related to his 28-year flight from authorities.

Howard Mechanic, 52, lived in Arizona under the name Gary Tredway, establishing a career as a successful business owner and activist whose role in the public sphere ultimately was his downfall.

After a reporter learned his identity earlier this year, Mechanic turned himself in on a 1972 conviction for throwing a cherry bomb during a protest at Washington University in St. Louis. He began the five-year sentence in February.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Roger Strand tacked on a concurrent four-month sentence for fleeing authorities.

Upon his Nov. 21 sentencing for falsifying information to obtain a passport, Mechanic will likely receive three years’ probation. A count of falsifying information to obtain a Social Security card was dropped.

In court, Mechanic spoke of the fear he had as a 22-year-old man, just two weeks from graduation, and apologized to the people of Scottsdale.

“I lied to people . . . and I regret that,” Mechanic said. “I’d never recommend anybody do what I did.”

Mechanic’s spokeswoman, Athia Hardt, called the deal favorable in that it resolved outstanding charges in St. Louis and Arizona. “Once these are resolved, it will allow Howard’s supporters to seek a commutation of his sentence,” she said.