A federal jury last week acquitted Connor Cash, 22, on all charges related to a number of arsons in the Suffolk County area in 2000 that had been tied to animal rights and environmental extremist groups.

Federal prosecutors had charged Cash with being the ring leader of the group behind the arsons, and plea bargained with Matthew Ramelkamp, 19, and Jared McIntyre, 21, in exchange for their testimony against Cash.

But the jury apparently didn\’t find either Ramelkamp or McIntyre credible and quickly came back with an acquittal on all charges for Cash.

Sources:

LI man acquitted in environmental terror trial. Associated Press, May 21, 2004.

Acquittal in environmental terrorism case. Robert Kessler, New York Newsday, May 21, 2004.