Biography
Peter Schnell, age 21, was charged with attempted arson in 2001 after being found behind Capitola City Hall with plastic milk bottles, gasoline, and candles. Sentenced to 24 months federal prison.
Green Anarchy reports that Matthew Whyte and Peter Schnell pleaded guilty in federal court in San Jose on October 15, 2001 to possession of an unregistered firearm. Its January 28, 2002 sentencing date was still a future hearing when that issue appeared. Earth First! Journal subsequently corrected its reversed sentences: Schnell received 24 months and Whyte 14 months. It reports Whyte transferred to a halfway house on December 18; this is not treated as unconditional release.
The September–October 2003 roster reports Schnell’s actual August 27 release. The inherited January 2005 endpoint was unvalidated; earlier pretrial custody remains uncounted.
Whyte’s first-person statement identifies prosecutor Scott Frewing.
