THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 17, 1996 TAG: 9605170535
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
An anti-abortion activist pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to conspiring to burn women's health clinics in Norfolk and Newport News.
In a plea agreement, prosecutors dropped four charges against Clark Ryan Martin in exchange for his guilty plea to one conspiracy charge and his agreement to testify against others connected with clinic violence.
Martin, 24, a political science junior at Old Dominion State University, was indicted in March on charges of conspiracy, two counts of arson and two counts of using fire to commit a felony.
The indictment accused Martin and Jennifer Patterson Sperle of conspiring to set and of setting fires at two clinics in December 1994 and March 1995. Neither fire caused extensive damage.
Sperle, 23, of Wichita, Kan., is scheduled to go to trial June 11.
U.S. District Judge Raymond Jackson said Martin will remain free on a $20,000 bond. He faces a maximum sentence of five years and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced in August.
Martin declined comment. His attorney, Richard Brydges, said they decided to enter the guilty plea to spare Martin a long absence from his wife, Patricia, and their and 3-week-old child.
Brydges said his client has shown ``tremendous remorse for committing the crime and sees the folly in his ways.''
If Martin had been convicted on all five counts, he would have faced up to 20 years in prison for each arson charge and a $250,000 fine.
According to the indictment, Martin provided roadside flares to Sperle and went with her to the Peninsula Medical Center in Newport News on Dec. 12 or Dec. 13, 1994. Sperle allegedly dropped lighter fluid and a lit flare through the center's mail slot. The damage included melted carpet.
Another fire was set at the Tidewater Women's Health Center, in the 800 block of Norfolk Square in Norfolk, in March 1995.
Sperle allegedly obtained two gallons of kerosene and a glass cutter and used the tool to gain access to the Norfolk clinic. She and Martin then allegedly used a heavy post to break a clinic window, poured kerosene inside and ignited it.
Brydges said neither he nor Martin has received any threats from other anti-abortionists. ``We hope they're wise and do not bother his family,'' Brydges said.
KEYWORDS: ARSON CONSPIRACY VANDALISM TRIAL
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