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December 1, 2000/Kislev 10, 5761, Vol. 53, No.10
Journey to freedom one step closer
BARRY COHEN
Community Editor
Howard Mechanic's supporters hope that his latest sentence will get him one step closer to freedom.
On Nov. 21, U.S. Federal 9th Circuit Judge Roger Strand sentenced Mechanic to three years probation, 300 hours of community service and a $5,000 fine - all for obtaining a false passport - said Athia Hardt, spokeswoman for Mechanic. This court hearing with Mechanic present was the final phase of the plea-bargain process dealing with the passport.
Concerning the plea, Mechanic's sister Marilyn Goldfein of Cleveland, said, "That's all well and good, but we do not want him in prison any longer than need be."
On Feb. 10, Mechanic began serving a five-year sentence in the federal prison at Florence for participating in an anti-Vietnam demonstration at Washington University in St. Louis on May 5, 1970. After exhausting appeals for the sentence, Mechanic had fled in 1972 and started a new life in Arizona under the name Gary Tredway.
In Arizona, Mechanic married, raised a son and started several businesses, including an apartment-style hotel he still owns.
He became involved in community activities and early this year announced his candidacy for a seat on the Scottsdale City Council. While a candidate, his identity was disclosed. He surrendered to the U.S. Marshal in early February.
At best, according to Hardt, he will be in prison until the end of January. At worst, he could serve the entire sentence, which runs through February 2005.
Mechanic's legal team and supporters are working to obtain his clemency from President Clinton. Hardt said documents were filed in May and updated in October.
There is no timetable for when Clinton will review the papers, although he leaves office Jan. 20.
"The president's record is not one of giving lots of pardons," said Hardt, but she is hopeful he will pardon Mechanic.
Harvey Mechanic, Howard's identical twin brother who lives in Los Angeles, said he is working within the constraints of the Freedom of Information Act to discover more about the government's case.
"I want to get out the facts of what actually happened," he said, referring to allegations that Howard Mechanic threw a cherry bomb at police and firefighters during the Washington University demonstration, and legal arguments presented to the district court in 1970.
Harvey wants people to visit www.howardmechanic.org and write or fax Clinton asking for the five-year sentence to be commuted.
Gold added that if Mechanic's sentence is not commuted, he would be eligible for parole in October 2001.
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