MISSOULA, Mont. Two former Missoula residents pleaded guilty in federal court here Thursday to misdemeanor charges of spiking trees in Idaho.
Arvid E. Hartley and Neil K. McLain agreed earlier to testify against three others accused in a tree-spiking venture four years ago.
That trial is scheduled to begin Monday in U.S. District Court in Spokane, Wash. Accused in that case are John Blount, Jeffrey C. Fairchild and Daniel A. LaCrosse.
Hartley and McLain both admitted Thursday that they put metal spikes in trees with the intent to hinder a timber sale in the Post Office Creek area of the Clearwater National Forest near Powell, Idaho. Authorities say the spiking occurred March 29, 1989.
U.S. Magistrate Bart Erickson accepted the guilty pleas and set sentencing for Aug. 5.
Hartley and McLain face a maximum penalty of one year in jail.
Blount and Fairchild are accused of two counts each of conspiracy, tree spiking and willfully injuring or committing depredation against property. LaCrosse is charged with two counts of conspiracy.
Forest Service officials learned of the spiking in early April 1989 when they received a letter warning that 500 pounds of bridge spikes had been driven into the trees.
Missoula resident Tracy Stone-Manning, who has been granted immunity in exchange for her testimony, told authorities she mailed the letter several days after Blount gave her an obscenity-filled letter and asked her to mail it.
