Since you have followed the history and court proceedings of the former members of the SLA then I am sure you are quite aware that Bill Harris, Emily Montague along with Patty Hearst have served their sentences upon their arrest 18 Sep 1975, for their crimes. Prison is designed to rehabilitate inmates so they can go back into society. Each one has done exactly that. Why didn't the Sacremento District Attorney's office pursue the Crocker Bank robbery and killing of Mrs. Opsahl? Steven Soliah was arrested and tried then aquitted of the robbery. He was the only member of the SLA whom was tried for this crime. Their reasoning was there wasn't sufficient evidence at the time to charge anyone with the crime. It was the District Attorney's decision NOT to pursue charges of the killing of Mrs. Opsahl not the former members of the SLA. 27 yrs later the former members were arrested and charged for murder. They accepted the responsibility for their actions by admitting guilt and have agreed to serve their punishment. How many other criminals will admit guilt and save the taxpayers millions of dollars for a trial? Not very many. I have read Ms. Hearst's novel Everything Secrect...I have also read the SLA handbook, the exerpts planning the kidnapping and everything available through the internet about the SLA from the formation of 1973 to the end 7 Nov 2002. Should Wendy Yokimsira, Steven Soliah and Patty Hearst have their "intrails ripped out and have feral dogs released to feed on their innards" also? They were as much responsible for that bank robbery/murder as Emily Montague, Bill Harris, Michael Bortin and Kathleen Soliah. They were involved in the planning and execution of that robbery. Alot more in detail if you really care to find out the truth.

Jennifer Baylor
author, Time to Go Home

Jennifer, thank you for your comments. Let me deal with your points one by one, if I may.

Since you have followed the history and court proceedings of the former members of the SLA then I am sure you are quite aware that Bill Harris, Emily Montague along with Patty Hearst have served their sentences upon their arrest 18 Sep 1975, for their crimes.

Pardon me, but no, they served nothing for their crimes at that time. Arrest and detention is a far different thing than conviction and imprisonment. One is administrative and subject to revocation, the other is not.

Prison is designed to rehabilitate inmates so they can go back into society.

Perhaps this is true in your perception of prison, but it is not true in mine. Prison is for punishment and the possibility of redemption, not for rehabilitation.

Why didn't the Sacremento District Attorney's office pursue the Crocker Bank robbery and killing of Mrs. Opsahl? Steven Soliah was arrested and tried then aquitted of the robbery.

Ms. Baylor, Steven Soliah was aquitted because there was insufficient forensic evidence and a perjured alibi. The case went unpursued because of the difficulty of proving forensic ties with a shotgun murder. Emily Harris didn't eject the shotgun casing, and without that, they could not prove that the fatal blast came from the recovered weapon.

He was the only member of the SLA whom was tried for this crime. Their reasoning was there wasn't sufficient evidence at the time to charge anyone with the crime. It was the District Attorney's decision NOT to pursue charges of the killing of Mrs. Opsahl not the former members of the SLA. 27 yrs later the former members were arrested and charged for murder.

Yes, because forensic science caught up with them. The lack of forensic sophistication in 1975 does not exhonerate them.

They accepted the responsibility for their actions by admitting guilt and have agreed to serve their punishment. How many other criminals will admit guilt and save the taxpayers millions of dollars for a trial? Not very many.

I sincerely doubt that is was altruism that fueled that decision. They copped a plea because they couldn't hope to win. That is no virtue.

I have read Ms. Hearst's novel Everything Secrect...I have also read the SLA handbook, the exerpts planning the kidnapping and everything available through the internet about the SLA from the formation of 1973 to the end 7 Nov 2002.

Wonderful for you. I've read Patty's book as well. I have no interest in reading the rantings of misguided faux-revolutionaries. I don't care what their motivations were. Evil is what evil does.

Should Wendy Yokimsira, Steven Soliah and Patty Hearst have their "intrails ripped out and have feral dogs released to feed on their innards" also?

Do you mean Wendy *Yoshimura*? She was granted immunity in return for turning state's evidence. She was convicted of weapons charges and served her sentence. Patty Hearst was also granted immunity, after being convicted for her lesser crimes.

Let's not forget that Patty was repeatedly raped into submission by the SLA bastards.

Steven Soliah has been aquitted, so he cannot stand trial again. The system isn't perfect, but I fervently hope that he steps in front of a bus sometime soon.

In addition, Wendy, Steven, and Patty were the getaway drivers. They weren't in the bank, they were not primary actors in the murder. They could still be held accountable as accomplices, but the two women were offered a deal so that the most culpable criminals could be brought to justice.

They were as much responsible for that bank robbery/murder as Emily Montague, Bill Harris, Michael Bortin and Kathleen Soliah. They were involved in the planning and execution of that robbery. Alot more in detail if you really care to find out the truth.

Thank you, but I am quite familiar with the facts of this case and the history of the SLA. I even know Wendy's correct surname.

My perception of prison is first hand. I ran across this web-site because I was looking up stories on Emily Harris.I was incarcorated with her in the 70's and had developed an friendship. I want to say Emily accepted her prison sentence as her punishment for her crime. She was never once in denial of her participation.

When reading the comments about "intrails ripped out and having feral dogs feeding on their inards" it actually brings me back to prison, because thats the language the most hardened inmates use. Is there really a "diffrence" between their thought and yours?
Prison does not rehibilitate, it is not designed for that. It is used by to system to punish the guilty. It's up to the paroling inmate to make the right choices upon their release. Emily never again committed a crime,however she had to return to prison for a crime committed during her SLA days.So did the other former SLA members. All four stayed arrest free many many years. That should say something about them. I am 100% for being a law abiding citizen. I don't throw rocks now because I once lived in a glass house.