Calif. Hometown Reacts to Lindh Plea

The Associated Press/July 15, 2002
By Olga R. Rodriguez

Fairfax, Calif. -- Word of John Walker Lindh's surprise plea bargain Monday brought both relief and dismay to his Northern California hometown.

Bill Jones, a friend and former housemate of Lindh's father, said he was glad a long trial was avoided. But he said the 21-year-old Lindh should not have to go to prison.

"When I first heard about it, I had a chill right down the middle of my stomach - just the word guilty,'' Jones said. "His only guilt as far as I'm concerned is that he became a fundamentalist Muslim. This kid should never be put in jail.''

Lindh, who spent his teenage years in the Marin County suburbs north of San Francisco, was captured along with other Taliban prisoners in Afghanistan in December. His deal with federal prosecutors means he will serve 20 years in prison and cooperate with U.S. authorities in their terror investigation.

"It doesn't matter to me if he was 12. He should be put away. People shouldn't turn against our country, no matter how old they are,'' said Edwin Jorgansen, 70, who was getting breakfast at the Koffee Klatch Cafe in Fairfax, where Lindh lived with his mother during high school.

"I think it's fair that he has to pay,'' said Deborah Celle, 49, a librarian from Fairfax. "I'm glad to see it resolved without a trial.''

Others were more sympathetic toward Lindh.

"He got brainwashed over there. I think they're just trying to make an example out of him,'' said waitress Kaity Shaner, 18, working the counter at the Koffee Klatch.

And Colleen Austin, 55, a pharmacy worker, said 20 years was a fair sentence, but Lindh "wasn't old enough to know the consequences of his actions'' or to understand how extreme the Taliban are.

"If I were in his shoes, I would probably have pleaded guilty, too,'' said Jason Diesel, 33, a Fairfax businessman. "Who wants to fight the U.S. government?''