Tim DeChristopher, who disrupted the sale of federal oil and gas leases in southern Utah three years ago, was convicted in a federal court this week of committing two felonies.

 

DeChristopher faces up to 10 years in prison, five for making a false statement to the federal government, and five more for violating the Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Reform Act, which established a competitive bidding process for oil and gas leases. He also could be fined up to $750,000. Sentencing will be on June 23.

 

The former University of Utah student infiltrated a federal energy leases auction in December 2008 to protest U.S. policies about climate change, and proceeded to bid $1.8 million for 14 parcels covering 22,000 acres of land, even though he had no money to complete the purchase. DeChristopher became a folk hero and martyr in the eyes of some environmentalists for taking action to stop the leasing of lands considered too sensitive for drilling.

 

U.S. District Judge Dee Benson would not allow the jury to take into account DeChristopher’s motivation or his contention that his violation of the law was less of an evil than the exploitation of land he believed should be left unexploited.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Federal Jury in Utah Convicts Environmentalist (by Kirk Johnson, New York Times)

Activist Who Bid on Oil Leases Faces 10 Years in Prison (by Noel Brinkerhoff and David Wallechinsky, AllGov)

Out-Bidding the Oil Companies (AllGov)