Northwest Iowa — Two women who admitted to damaging the Dakota Access Pipeline running through Iowa are now facing federal charges.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa says a federal grand jury has charged Jessica Reznicek and Ruby Montoya, with one count of conspiracy to damage an energy facility, four counts of use of fire in the commission of a felony, and four counts of malicious use of fire.
Montoya was recently arrested in Arizona and is awaiting extradition. Reznicek appeared in court and was released pending her trial, which is scheduled for December 2nd. The two held a news conference outside the Iowa Utilities Board office in July of 2017. Reznicek read a statement that said they tried several actions to stop the pipeline from being completed and transporting oil. She says they turned to vandalism after the other actions failed.
She says “our action wasn’t much, but we at least stopped construction for a day at that particular site.” Reznicek says they then looked for a better way to damage the pipeline.
Montoya says they were pleased with the way destroying the valves stopped the progress of the pipeline.
The two then said they moved back to arson, using tires and gasoline-soaked rags to burn multiple valve sites, their electrical units, as well as additional heavy equipment located throughout Iowa. The two said they attempted to pierce a valve located in Wapallo County in early May and were disheartened when they discovered the pipeline was already working. The two finished their statement and then pulled a hammer and crowbar from their backpacks and began to tear letters off the Iowa Utilities Board sign behind them. State Troopers quickly moved in and arrested the pair on vandalism charges. They got out of jail and the two said the FBI raided the Des Moines Catholic Worker House where they were staying in August of 2017 looking for evidence. Montoya was 27 at the time and Reznicek was 35. Little was heard of the case until the announcement of the charges against them. The information from the Southern District Attorney’s Office says they face 20 years in prison and a 250-thousand dollar fine if convicted of first charge of conspiracy to damage an energy facility. If they are convicted of the use of fire in the commission of a felony, Reznicek and Montoya face a mandatory minimum 10 years in prison to be served consecutive to the sentence imposed with the other charge. For each second or subsequent conviction Reznicek and Montoya face a mandatory minimum 20 years imprisonment. If they are convicted of malicious use of fire, Reznicek and Montoya face a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years in prison and not more than a 250-thousand dollar fine.
KIWA Archive Photo
