Seattle, Washington, U.S. - 23-year-old Christopher McIntosh was sentenced to eight years in Federal prison after having pled guilty to a January 20, 2003 arson at the Seattle Space Needle McDonald's. The fire, which was set on behalf of both the Earth and Animal Liberation Fronts, only caused about $5,000 in damages. In a statement to the court he said that "the Earth is being destroyed [and] animals are being led to mechanized slaughter. ... I don't consider myself a terrorist, but the Earth is being terrorized by corporate greed. ... I felt I had to do something to protect it." Before handing down the sentence, U.S. District Judge Thomas Zilly told Christopher that "unless we all live by the rule of law ... Mother Earth will not survive."

Supporters who attended the hearing wore "I Love Chris McIntosh" t-shirts. Christina McLean, who came all the way from Pennsylvania, assailed the sentence as excessive "for someone who caused $5,000 damage." Chris was turned in by his ex-girlfriend who acted as a lookout on the night in question.