Washington Man Accused Of Abortion Clinic Fires Federal Officials Claim Richard Andrews Had Plans For Spokane Abortion Clinic

Federal prosecutors say a trail of circumstantial evidence leads to a man suspected of staging a five-year campaign to destroy western abortion clinics, including three in Montana.

Richard T. Andrews’ lawyer, however, says his client is a peaceful anti-abortion activist and a victim of a pro-abortion campaign to persecute those who are pro-life.

“He’s never been involved in any violent act against any abortion clinic or abortionist,” said attorney Thomas S. Olmstead of Seattle.

Prosecutors say traffic tickets, canceled checks and mileage records from Andrews’ car will help prove Andrews is the man behind eight women’s health clinic fires between 1992 and 1997.

Andrews has been indicted in Sacramento, Calif., on federal charges for three arson fires at abortion clinics in that state. The U.S. Justice Department says Andrews also is being investigation in the torching of clinics in Helena, Missoula and Kalispell, Boise and Jackson, Wyo., but he has not been charged in those cases.

Prosecutors also contend Andrews had plans for clinics in Spokane, Portland and Fresno, Calif. Notes found in his car during a 1996 traffic stop estimated the miles and driving times between his home and those cities, court records show.

Andrews was stopped early on Jan. 18, 1992, for speeding in North Idaho, halfway from Helena to his home in Wenatchee. Several hours later, the Planned Parenthood clinic in Helena was set afire.

Federal prosecutors say the Helena fire began a five-year campaign by Andrews, 59, to destroy abortion clinics in the West.

Five months after the Helena fire, a clinic in Redding, Calif., was set afire. Nine months later, the Blue Mountain Clinic in Missoula burned to the ground. Two more clinic arsons, in Boise and Chico, Calif., followed in 1993.

The fires stopped for more than a year, but on Oct. 9, 1995, prosecutors say Andrews set three clinic fires in two days. The last of those, on Oct. 11, 1994, was in Kalispell.

At all those fires, red plastic gasoline containers were found wrapped in dark garbage sacks.

When troopers stopped Andrews in Vancouver, Wash., on June 26, 1996, state troopers found a butane torch, a road flare, plastic pipe, a respirator and a Bible. In the car’s trunk, they found red plastic gasoline containers wrapped in dark plastic garbage bags.

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This sidebar appeared with the story: ARSON TRAIL Federal prosecutors say a January 1992 fire in Helena marked the beginning of a five-year campaign by Richard T. Andrews, 59, to destroy abortion clinics in the West. Ensuing fires hit a clinic in Redding, Calif., and the Blue Mountain Clinic in Missoula. Two more clinic arsons, in Boise and Chico, Calif., followed in 1993. The fires stopped for more than a year, but on Oct. 9, 1995, prosecutors say Andrews set three clinic fires in two days. The last of those, on Oct. 11, 1994, was in Kalispell, Mont.