Wiebo Ludwig says he’s undaunted by new charges against him and his family for allegedly damaging two gas wells in Alberta.
“This is getting to be kind of a spiteful thing on the part of industry and the police. That’s my opinion,” said Ludwig, who noted the maximum sentence for the new charges is life in prison.
He was on his farm after being released on bail when he received news of the latest charges Feb. 22. Wiebo, his wife Mamie, three of their sons and one son-in-law all face charges of mischief endangering life.
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Some of the 10 charges stem from damage to a Norcen Energy Resources well near Hythe, Alta., in December 1997. Richard Boonstra, whose family lived on the same farm as the Ludwigs, was previously charged with mischief for the same incident.
The new charges come after the August 1998 bombing of a Suncor Energy well near Hinton, Alta. Similar charges were laid in September but then withdrawn, said Ludwig.
“They’re just trying to make something stick,” he said.
The family’s next court appearance is scheduled March 8. Lawyers from the Criminal Trial Lawyers’ Association will defend Mamie, the Ludwigs’ sons and their son-in-law.
Request for negotiations
When interviewed, Ludwig was writing a letter to the RCMP, Alberta Energy and Utilities Board and oil industry officials to suspend legal action in favor of negotiating peaceful solutions.
In preparation for his upcoming court appearance, he was also wading through 4,000 pages of disclosure on the first nine charges laid against him last month.
“It’s mainly surveillance reports from air and tracking vehicles that were out for three months. We were on good behavior for those three months anyway.
“I was surprised I behaved myself so well when I read the 4,000 pages of disclosure,” said Wiebo, who still had 700 pages left to go.
The family’s strong bond is helping them cope with the charges, said Ludwig: “It’s pretty taxing on a family.”
