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By MAI'BEEN SANTINI Of The State Journal StaffKarleton Lewis Armstrong Friday admitted his role in the 1970 fatal bombing of the Army Mathematics Research Center and in other firebombings, but made it clear he does not regard the acts as crimes.Just days after opposing lawyers settled on a plea bargain to avoid a trial. Armstrong Friday afternoon pleaded gu.lty in both state and federalcourts to reduced charges, including the second degree murder of Robert Fassnacht, a researcher who was killed in the AMRC blast.BI T THE 26-YEAR-OLD Madison native said he feels his real day in court will come Oct. 15, when an extensive sentencing hearing at which Armstrong will attempt to put the war on trial will begin.“I wish that a full defense of my actions will reach everyone's hearts and minds and reveal the Impelling reasons which made my acts necessary,” Armstrong said in a prepared statement he read before Circuit Judge William S a c h t j e n in statecourt.To Avoid Inhibiting TrialHe said he was pleading guilty to avoid an inhibiting trial ‘ where legal obstructions, high emotions, personalities, and inevitableconfrontations and sensation would serve no constructive purpose.•'The acts with which I have been credited were undertaken with the purpose of crippling the efforts of the American government to wage an illegal criminal and aggressive war against the IndoChinese peoples, to prevent further loss of life, devastation, and suffering,” Armstrong said.“THESE ACTIONS WERE intended anaffirmation of life and great precautions were taken to prevent injury to human life,” he said.First Sachtjen and later Federal Judge James Doyle accepted Armstrong’s guilty pleas after prosecutors outlined what they were prepared to show during a trial.In state court, Armstrong pleaded guilty to second degree murder and arson in relation to theAug. 24.1970, blast of Sterling Hall which at the time housed the AMRC.Plus Counts of ArsonAdditionally, the state charges included three counts of arson stemming from firebombings at Temporary Building 16 which housed ROTC class rooms on Dec. 28, 1969; the University of Wisconsin Primate Research Center on Jan. 4. 1970; and the UW Armory on Jan. 3. 1970. He also pleaded guilty to attempted sabotage Feb. 22, 1970, of a Wisconsin Power and Light Co. electric substation near Prairie du Sac which provided electricity for part of the Badger Army Ammunition Plant.As part of the plea bargain, prosecutors recommended a total sentence of 25 years in prison, although the maximum penalty on the chargescould amount to 95 years. Sachtjen indicated he/ urn to Pagr 3We'll Get Sun Day, but Not for WhileThe clouds probably won t Some chance of showers —go away today, either. 30 per cent — will alsoMadison has not had a shadow the day, although thereally good look at the sun high should be somewheresince last Sunday, and the around a pleasant 70.weather forecast says today Madison had .14 of an inchand Sunday are likely to be of rain Friday. The high wascloudy, too. 64 at 1:30 p.m. The year'sprecipitation is now 29 47 inches, compared to 30.16 inches on an average year to this date.
Newspaper Details
Madison Wisconsin State Journal
Madison, Wisconsin, US
Sat, Sep 29, 1973
Page 1
Full Page
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Aaliyah B.
NA, 20 Apr 2022
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