Saying he wanted to set an example for those who would consider breaking the law even for a righteous cause, a federal judge Thursday imposed stiff prison terms on the first of the Rev. Dorman Owens' followers to be sentenced for conspiring to bomb a San Diego abortion clinic.
U.S. District Judge Earl B. Gillam sentenced Cheryl Sullenger, 32, to three years. He sentenced her husband, Randall Sullenger, 35, to an 18-month term--six months of it in a halfway house so he can continue working at a warehouse before leaving for one year in prison.
In both cases, the sentences exceeded those suggested by a federal probation officer--two years for Cheryl Sullenger and one year and a day for her husband.
First to be Sentenced
The Sullengers are the first of eight members of the fundamentalist Bible Missionary Fellowship in Santee to be sentenced for their part in the attempted bombing of the Family Planning Associates Medical Group on July 27. The gasoline bomb failed to go off when wind blew out the fuse.
"I agree with all of you that these are good people," Gillam told defense attorneys who argued vigorously for light sentences because the Sullengers, devout Christians, felt remorse and now understand that their strong biblical convictions were no excuse to violate the law.
But the couple overstepped the bounds of free speech during their anti-abortion crusade by plotting to plant the gasoline bomb at the clinic, Gillam added.
"Wrapped up in the punishment, this court feels it should almost make this an example, too," Gillam said.
Gillam opted for the stiffer sentences, despite apologies from the Sullengers.
'What We Did Was Wrong'
"Well, Your Honor, I know what we did was wrong," Cheryl Sullenger said, adding that her religious beliefs "put a lot of emotional pressure on us to do this."
"I believe it says in the Bible that abortion is murder, and when you see that, you are compelled to do something about that," she said.
Added Randall: "Your Honor, this whole situation was a bad plan that got out of hand. I'm really sorry that happened. I do have real strong views on abortion, but I know this was the wrong way to go about this. To step outside the law was wrong."
Gillam staggered the sentences so that at least one of the Sullengers could stay home with their two daughters, ages 6 and 4. Cheryl Sullenger will begin her term after her husband has completed his sentence.
