Eric McDavid, who went on the road to learn what was beyond his middle class, suburban Sacramento upbringing and returned a prisoner, was sentenced Thursday to 19 years and seven months in prison.
At the conclusion of a lengthy hearing before a crowded courtroom, U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. found McDavid's plan to "disrupt government and commercial installations" overrides his lack of a criminal history and a reputation among family and friends as "a peaceful individual."
England denied defense lawyer Mark Reichel's request for bail pending appeal. Reichel had earlier told the judge, "Mr. McDavid and I plan to pursue his appeal vigorously."
In an extremely unusual move, deputy U.S. marshals allowed McDavid's traumatized and tearful mother, father and two sisters to hug him before he was taken away.
He was found guilty by a jury in September of conspiring with two others to burn or blow up a federal facility.
Two very talented lawyers - Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Steven Lapham and Reichel - went head to head on whether the terrorism sentence enhancement should apply.
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