[Ppnews] Eugenean to stay in jail until jury ends

[Political Prisoner News]

<http://www.dailyemerald.com>www.dailyemerald.com


Eugenean to stay in jail until jury ends




Jeff Hogg will not be released until March, or until he agrees to 
testify in the eco-sabotage case




By: 
<http://www.dailyemerald.com/user/index.cfm?event=displayAuthorProfile&authorid=2322526>Eric 
Florip | News Reporter

Issue date: 10/11/06 Section: 
<http://www.dailyemerald.com/news/2006/10/11/News/>News

The Eugene resident who has been jailed since May 18 for refusing to 
testify before a grand jury investigating the Operation Backfire 
eco-sabotage case could remain in custody until March 2007 after the 
jury's term was extended by six months.

Jeffrey Hogg, a 32-year-old nursing student, was brought in by the 
jury last spring to answer questions relating to the federal 
investigation of 13 defendants accused of numerous arsons in the 
Northwest for environmentally motivated causes.

When he refused to testify, Hogg was held in contempt of court and 
imprisoned. Hogg is not facing charges himself.

The jury, originally set to expire on Sept. 30, will now continue to 
the end of March, meaning Hogg will not be released until then, 
unless he testifies.

Stephen Peifer, a prosecuting attorney in the case, said Hogg can be 
held for a maximum of 18 months or until the grand jury expires, 
whichever comes first. Since Hogg has only been in custody since May, 
according to the current schedule the jury will expire before 18 months pass.

Peifer said the fastest and easiest way for Hogg to be released is to 
simply come forward and testify.

"He is in jail without being accused of anything," said Lauren Regan, 
executive director and staff attorney of the Civil Liberties Defense 
Center in Eugene.

Regan said the grand jury was used improperly to subpoena Hogg 
because it was used to prepare a case for the trial, which likely 
won't begin until next year.

"What they chose to do was illegal use of a grand Jury," she said.

Peifer said it is the court's order for a person to comply with a 
grand jury and testify in any situation.

Hogg was given a Grumbles hearing, which was intended to determine if 
Hogg's imprisonment would actually coerce him into testifying, on 
Aug. 15, according to the CLDC Web site, but his release was denied 
by Judge Michael Hogan.

A hearing will be held Oct. 31 to set a date for the trial in Eugene 
before Judge Ann Aiken, Peifer said.

Of the 13 charged defendants in the case, four will be on trial 
before Aiken in Eugene, six have already entered guilty pleas and 
three are fugitives, Peifer said.

Regan said Hogg was likely brought in to testify because of his 
active role in local environmental causes, and because he may have 
known some of the defendants personally.

"Apparently they think he has some information that they want," Regan said.

Since he refused to testify in May because of his disagreement with 
the secret nature of the grand jury, Regan said, Hogg has also been 
forced to give up his schooling and to quit his job.

"He has certainly sacrificed a lot for his principles," she said.

Regan said Hogg has received a lot of support from the local 
environmental community in the form of letters and financial support 
to his life partner Cecilia Story, who had lived with Hogg.

Contact the business, science and technology reporter at 
eflorip at dailyemerald.com

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