News: Washington Capital News Service (Mitchell Herman sentencing) (February 6, 1980)

WASHINGTON (AP) — A FEDERAL JUDGE TODAY SENTENCED A SIXTH CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY LEADER TO PRISON FOR CONSPIRING TO STEAL GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS, INFILTRATE FEDERAL AGENCIES AND KIDNAP A CHURCH OFFICIAL WHO DECIDED TO HELP EXPOSE THE CRIMES.

U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE CHARLES R. RICHEY ORDERED MITCHELL HERMANN TO SERVE A FOUR-YEAR PRISON TERM AND PAY A $10,000 FINE.

THREE OTHER CHURCH OFFICIALS OR OPERATIVES AWAITED SENTENCING LATER IN THE DAY.

HERMANN ADMITTED PLACING A BUGGING DEVICE IN AN INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE OFFICE WHERE TAX OFFICIALS WERE DISCUSSING THE CHURCH’S TAX-EXEMPT STATUS. .

HERMANN TOLD THE JUDGE THAT HE PERSONALLY PLANTED THE “BUG” BECAUSE “I AT LEAST HAD THE SENSE TO DO IT WITHOUT BUMBLING ABOUT. I FELT IT WAS BETTER IF I DID THIS THAN SOMEONE ELSE BECAUSE I FELT IF SOMEONE ELSE DID IT, IT MIGHT BE DONE IN AN INEPT FASHION THAT WOULD PRECIPITATE A DISASTER.

ALL THE DEFENDANTS SENTENCED THURSDAY — INCLUDING MARY SUE HUBBARD, WIFE OF CHURCH FOUNDER L. RON HUBBARD — SAID THEY WERE SORRY FOR THEIR CRIMES. ONE, HENNING HELDT SAID THE CHURCH LEADERS WERE REACTING TO GOVERNMENT ATTEMPTS TO “DESTROY THEIR RELIGION AND MAKE A MOCKERY OF THEIR BELIEFS.”