Man facing jail time for landscaping.

Man facing jail time for landscaping - look I think radical environmentalists are absolute nut jobs. I don't think that makes me anti-environment. The funny thing about this case is that it seems that a radical environmentalist has run afoul of laws created by his brethren.

LOS ANGELES Sep 6, 2006 (AP)— To prosecutors, Robert "Roy" van de Hoek is a vandal with pruning shears. To supporters of native California shrubs and trees, he's a martyr.

Once again, he's in court.

The Los Angeles City Attorney's office says the former park supervisor cut down non-native plants in one of the largest coastal wetlands in Southern California, killing a ficus tree and myoporum shrubs.

He is facing six misdemeanor charges that include injuring vegetation without permission. Each count could bring jail time and thousands of dollars in fines.

"Trimming and landscaping isn't done without authorization from government agencies," said Frank Mateljan of the city attorney's office.

Here is an awesome line I stole from this post at To The People (a kickass website).

Mateljan's comment is best read aloud, and in an authoritative German accent.

Seriously, I hope this guy doesn't get punished. He pruned some trees and cut down some non-native stuff. It isn't like he clear-cut a forest or strip-mined West Virginia. This is a perfect case for jury nullification.

Speaking of jury nullification - we had a debate here about that about a year ago - did you know that the only Supreme Court Justice (Samuel Chase - a Marylander) who ever had articles of impeachment drawn up against him was impeached because he didn't support jury nullification enough? Many of our current prosecutors would have you believe that juries judging the laws were a terrible thing.

Kid Handsome - comin' at ya' live from B-Less.