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Eco-Arsonist Sentenced to Nearly 22 Years

Marie Mason, a 47-year-old environmental activist, was sentenced Thursday to nearly 22 years in prison for a 1999 arson attack at Michigan State University’s Agriculture Hall that caused more than $1 million in damage.

The incident was prosecuted in a Michigan federal court as a domestic terrorism case, and United States District Judge Paul Maloney referred to Ms. Mason’s acts as an “abandonment of the marketplace of ideas.” Prosecutors had recommended a 20-year sentence. Judge Maloney went higher: 21 years and 10 months.

According to The Associated Press, Ms. Mason helped set the Michigan State fire along with her former husband, Frank Ambrose, as a protest against research into genetically modified crops.

Mr. Ambrose cooperated with authorities in implicating Ms. Mason, who, as part of her plea, also admitted responsibility for another $3 million in damages caused in other acts of vandalism, including “destroying homes under construction in the Detroit area and Indiana and setting fire to two boats owned by a man who formerly raised minks,” The A.P. reported.

Ms. Mason had said she acted on behalf of the Earth Liberation Front, a radical environmental group.