LEONARD PELTIER Peltier: Birth to Leavenworth

{Note: text beneath in red added by me for purposes of linking specific parts of the trial transcript to some form of time line..Ish}
 

    Sept. 12, 1944
    Leonard James Peltier born on Sept. 12, 1944 to Leo and Alvina
    Reabeduex in Grand Forks, and raised in North Dakota. He moved with
    his parents to copper mines and to logging camps.

    His parents separated and he entered Wahpeton Indian Boarding School
    in Wahpeton, ND. He returned to live with his mother in Grand Forks,
    and at 14 moved on his own to find work.

    He moved to Washington state where he joined the fishing rights conflict
    in the 1960s and in 1964 became part owner of an auto body shop in
    Seattle.

    1964
    He was married to Sandy Martinez.

    1968
    Divorced in 1968 in Grand Forks, ND.

    March 8, 1970
    He participated in the Fort Lawton, Oregon occupation in 1970 and
    joined (AIM) American Indian Movement that year.

    He moved to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota and became a
    fundraiser for AIM, working closely with Dennis Banks.

    1972
    Moved to Milwaukee, WI in 1972. Helped organize Milwaukee caravan
    for Trail of Broken Treaties from and returning to Milwaukee.

    Nov. 22, 1972
    Arrested in Milwaukee, WI on charge of attempted murder after
    restaurant problems with off-duty officers. Held for several months at
    high bail.

    1973
    Wounded Knee occupation of 1973. In October of 1973 he returned to
    Seattle.

    Aug. 9, 1974
    Peltier was the subject of a complaint filed by a Special Agent in
    Milwaukee, WI on Aug. 9, 1974 in U.S. District Court before U.S.
    Magistrate John C. McBride. The court issued a warrant to the U.S.
    Marshal's Office in Milwaukee. The FBI sheet said Peltier could be
    charged with violation of Title 18, Sec. 1073, U.S. Code, Attempted
    Murder.

    March, 1975
    He returned to the Pine Ridge Reservation in March of 1975, lived first
    at Oglala, then at the Harry Jumping Bull compound.

    June, 1975
    Attended AIM convention in Farmington, NM. Brought four young
    Navajo teenagers back to Jumping Bull.

    June 26, 1975
    Was involved in June 26, 1975 shootout in which two FBI agents, Jack
    Coler and Ronald Williams, and AIM member Joe Stuntz were killed.
    Concealed at Crow Dog's Paradise, Rosebud Reservation until early
    September.

    Sept. 10, 1975
    Explosion of AIM car on Kansas Turnpike, AR-15 rifle recovered by
    BATF and taken to FBI Laboratory.

    Oct. 2, 1975
    FBI teletype says AR-15 "contains different firing pin than that in rifle
    used at the Jumping Bull scene."

    Oct. 31, 1975
    FBI Laboratory reports none of casings recovered at Jumping Bull
    match AR-15 recovered on Kansas Turnpike.

    Nov. 1975
    Two FBI informers advise Peltier in hiding on Port Madison Reservation
    in Washington State.

    Nov. 14, 1975
    Involved in the Ontario incident in late 1975, wounded and fled to
    Smallboy's Reserve in Alberta through Indian underground.

    Nov. 25, 1975
    Peltier, Robideau, Butler and Eagle indicted in FBI agents' deaths.

    Feb. 6, 1976
    Arrested by RCMP at Smallboy's Reserve in southwest Alberta with
    Frank Black Horse. Taken to Calgary, Alta., then Okalla Prison in
    Vancouver, B.C.

    Feb. 10, 1976
    FBI Lab reports for first time match between Wichita AR-15 and .223
    casing found in trunk of Coler's car.

    Feb. 19, 1976
    First Poor Bear affidavit.

    Feb. 23, 1976
    Second Poor Bear affidavit.

    March 31, 1976
    Third Poor Bear affidavit.

    May 3, 1976
    Extradition hearing opens before Canadian Justice W.A. Schultz.

    May 11, 1976
    Poor Bear affidavits presented to Canadian court for extradition to U.S.

    June 18, 1976
    Judge Schultz rules U.S. government has presented sufficient evidence
    to warrant extradition.

    Dec. 20, 1976
    Basford signs extradition order; Peltier extradited by Canadian
    government to Fargo, ND.

    Spring, 1977
    Leonard Peltier Defense Committee established in Rapid City, SD.

    Mar. 14-April 18, 1977
    Brought to trial in 1977 in Fargo, ND before Federal Judge Paul Benson
    on two charges of first degree murder and convicted by jury after five
    hours deliberation of aiding and abetting in agents' deaths.

    June 1, 1977
    Peltier sentenced to two life terms at Marion, IL.

    December, 1977
    Peltier appeal opens with oral argument before three-judge panel in St.
    Louis, MO.

    Feb., 1978
    Milwaukee trial follows on attempted murder charges. Peltier wins
    acquittal after off-duty policeman's former girlfriend testifies he bragged
    earlier he was going to "bag" a prominent AIM leader.

    April 12, 1978
    Circuit Court of appeals refuses to grant appeal.

    May 12, 1978
    Robert Wilson (Standing Deer) transferred to Marion and asked to
    cooperate in unspecified operation to "remove" Peltier. He discloses
    offer to Peltier.

    Sept. 14, 1978
    8th Circuit Court of Appeals upholds 1977 conviction.

    February, 1979
    Peltier transferred to Lompoc Prison in California.

    March 5, 1979
    U.S. Supreme Court refuses review of Peltier appellate decision.

    May 10, 1979
    Charles Richards enters Leavenworth en route to Lompoc. Rumored to
    be second assassin.

    July 20, 1979
    Peltier, Bobby Garcia and Dallas Thundershield escape from Lompoc.
    Thundershield shot and killed, Garcia seized, Peltier escapes.

    July 25, 1979
    Peltier recaptured by FBI agents.

    Nov. 14, 1979
    Peltier's escape trial before Judge Lawrence Lydick in Los Angeles,
    lasting two months. Peltier says he escaped to save his own life. Lydick
    prohibits assassination theory testimony.

    Jan. 20, 1980
    Convicted by jury of escape and being felon in possession of gun, with
    seven years added to sentence.

    November, 1980
    LPDC lawyers obtain 12,000 pages of declassified FBI documents, with
    additional 6,000 pages withheld because of "national security."

    March, 1981
    Robert Redford visits Peltier at Marion.

    March 10, 1981
    Peltier "escape conviction" on appeal to 9th Circuit Court. Three-judge
    panel reverses escape conviction, advises lower court to allow
    assassination plot evidence regarding Charles Richards.

    April 11, 1982
    Defense files writ of habeas corpus in U.S. District Court, Fargo, ND
    indicating suppression of exonerating evidence in 1977 trial, as well as
    conscious use of perjured witnesses.

    Dec. 30, 1982
    Benson refuses release of 6,000 pages of FBI files on Peltier.

    Dec. 31, 1982
    Benson denies Peltier new trial.

    1983
    Peter Matthiessen's In the Spirit of Crazy Horse and Jim
    Messerschmidt's The Trial of Leonard Peltier are published.

    Oct. 1-3, 1984
    Judge Benson denies request for retrial.

    June, 1985
    Peltier transferred to Leavenworth Prison in Kansas.

    Oct. 15, 1985
    Prosecutor Lynn Crooks allows during oral argument before 8th Circuit
    Court of Appeals, "We don't know who killed those agents."

    Oct. 11, 1986
    Circuit Court finds Benson erred in 1977 rulings, witnesses has been
    coerced, evidence fabricated, favorable evidence suppressed. But appeal
    denied.

    June, 1987
    Soviet eye specialists visit him at Leavenworth.

    Spring, 1990
    Libyan government bestows human rights award to AIM POW Peltier.

    June, 1989
    U.S. government admits before Canadian court that Poor Bear
    extradition documents of 1976 were fraudulent.

    Dec. 3, 1990
    Defense files writ of habeas corpus calling for immediate release of
    Peltier by reason of violations of due process.

    April 18, 1991
    Appeals court Judge Heaney in letter to Inouye supports leniency.

    Sept. 22, 1991
    CBS's "60 Minutes" broadcasts segment on Peltier case.

    Oct. 2, 1991
    Peltier attorneys in Bismarck, ND hearing appeal for new trial, arguing
    prosecutors changed theory of case.

    Dec. 30, 1991
    Judge Benson denies retrial on Federal Magistrate Karen Klein's
    recommendation.

    July 5, 1992
    Leavenworth riot, Peltier later charged as "active participant," then
    cleared.

    Autumn, 1992
    Peltier authorizes publication of Bradley diatribe against Ward Churchill
    in LPDC newsletter.

    Nov. 9, 1992
    Attorney Ramsey Clark files another appeal for retrial in St. Paul, MN.
    First Clark entry into case.

    Spring, 1993
    Peltier principal figure in Robert Redford's film "Incident at Oglala."

    July 7, 1993
    8th Circuit Court denies appeal.

    Nov. 22, 1993
    Subject of Clinton presidential clemency petition.

    December, 1993
    U.S. Parole Commission denies Peltier petition; he must serve 15 more
    years before reconsideration.

    December, 1994
    Leonard Peltier Freedom Campaign opens office in Washington D.C.
    Ron Lessard is director of office.

    January, 1995
    European Parliament supports clemency.

    April 18, 1995
    Lessard affidavit re: Appeal Courts' understanding of Norman Brown's
    1977 trial testimony.

    May 12, 1995
    Kunstler files "motion to open appeal hearing or for appropriate relief" in
    8th Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis.

    September, 1995
    Defense discovers new FBI radio communications of June 26, 1975
    indicating FBI agents in area 20 minutes before earlier accepted time of
    shootout. Defense initiates new FOIA request.

    Dec. 11, 1995
    Second parole hearing in which Peltier commended for good behavior,
    work for Indian people. Decision upcoming.

    December, 1995
    Transferred to U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield,
    MO.

    March 21, 1996
    Parole request rejected by U.S. Parole Commission.

    Autumn, 1996
    Dennis Banks announces "Bring Peltier Home" campaign for rest of
    1996 and Spring 1997.

    Spring, 1997
    Jane Ayre's Hearts of Charity published in spring.

    April, 1997
    Worldwide Organizers' Clemency Conference in Tulsa Creek
    Community, Tulsa, Oklahoma announced for June 19-22.

    Sources:
    Private news files, FBI documents, NFIC documents, Wexler 1982,
    Messerschmidt 1983, Matthiessen 1983, LPFC 1996.