Terrorist Gets Two Life Terms With No Parole Merrell Was Convicted Of Bombings, Robberies In Spokane Valley In 1996

A domestic terrorist who detonated bombs and twice robbed a Spokane Valley bank will spend the rest of his life in federal prison.

Verne Jay Merrell must serve two consecutive life terms without the possibility of release.

The 52-year-old Merrell sat impassively and read his Bible as U.S. District Judge Frem Nielsen handed down the sentence Thursday.

“I will not stand for you,” Merrell told the judge.

He earlier refused to answer questions about a confidential court-ordered report on his background.

His court-appointed attorney, Frank Conklin, filed a written objection to the use of Merrell’s Social Security number in the report.

Merrell claims he repudiated his Social Security number because he is a “citizen of Yahweh,” not of the United States, Conklin said. Merrell refers to God as Yahweh.

When given a chance to address the court, Merrell didn’t ask for leniency but read from the Bible.

“I have a few things to say to you,” Merrell told the judge, cracking open his red Bible.

He read passages from the books of St. Luke, Isaiah, Corinthians, Romans and Revelation.

They made reference to those who are truly faithful to God and are persecuted by “foolish people.”

One verse said the faithful will be betrayed by family and friends, and some will face death for their beliefs.

“Ye shall be hated by all men for Yahweh’s sake,” Merrell read.

“You personally have seen the fulfillment of this prophecy in your courtroom,” he told the judge.

Merrell accused the court of violating God’s law and the law of man. He also accused the FBI of planting evidence against him and the judge of altering the trial transcript.

The judge said Merrell’s repudiation of his Social Security number and his objections to weapon descriptions in the background report had no bearing on his sentence.

The mandatory life terms are tied to Merrell’s three convictions for using a firearm or pipe bomb during a crime of violence.

The first conviction carries a mandatory 30 years in prison. The second requires a mandatory sentence of life in prison. The third carries a second consecutive mandatory life sentence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Rice asked the court to order Merrell to pay $214,338 in restitution to the companies targeted by the terrorism - U.S. Bank, Planned Parenthood and The Spokesman-Review.

One bank teller asked for $11,874 for lost wages and reimbursement for a psychiatrist’s bill of $1,100. But the judge said federal law doesn’t allow the court to order that kind of restitution.

Merrell, a former nuclear plant worker, moved to North Idaho from Arizona about a decade ago to pursue his white-separatist religious beliefs.

He was convicted by a jury in July of 12 counts after an earlier trial ended with a hung jury.

The second jury found Merrell guilty of the April 1, 1996, robbery of U.S. Bank in the Spokane Valley and bombings that same day at the bank and the Valley office of The Spokesman-Review.

Merrell also was convicted of the July 12, 1996, bombing at Planned Parenthood and a second robbery of the same bank.

Co-defendant Charles H. Barbee is scheduled to be sentenced today in Nielsen’s court. Sentencing for Robert S. Berry is set for next Tuesday.

Merrell’s common-law wife, LaWren Ellsworth, watched the sentencing but didn’t address the court.

Asked her reaction outside the courtroom, Ellsworth said: “Thank goodness for eternal life.”

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