Olsen, a U.S. national, attempts to remove animals from experiment laboratory at workplace, Chicago's Cook CountyHospital, after multiple futile efforts by conventional means to interest hospital in utilizing alternatives, but is apprehended. CCH attempts to institutionalize Olsen in a psychiatric hospital, which refuses to admit her due to absence of abnormal psychiatric findings. CCH then has Olsen arrested.
First arrest. Months later the charges are dismissed and Olsen's record is ordered legally expunged.
1992 - (November 18) Olsen is arrested in home following an Independence Day (July 4) anti fur protest, at which lanterns were discovered which had Olsen's fingerprints. These were matched with those of the "expunged" record. The gas fueled lanterns were designed to illuminate a large billboard painted upon a railroad viaduct which declared "Save the Environment Wear Fur." A Freedom of Information banner was designed to be draped over this false advertising statement, altering the message to "Save...Freedom of Information." A photo and news release were intended for media to inform the public of the toxic effects of the fur industry and of animal abuse. Of twenty one plastic lanterns suspended in metal piepans, only one lit, flamed briefly and burned down, extinguishing itself per design.
1994 - (July 28) After twenty months free on bond, Olsen is convicted at jury trial of five felonies (1,2,3) "Possession, transportation and manufacture of incendiary devices, "Attempt Arson," "Unauthorized Use of Weapon." Bond is not extended until sentencing by trial judge Vincent Bentivenga and Olsen is taken from court to Cook County Jail. Convictions are obtained by prosecutorial-judicial collusion which include police perjury and live testimony against defendant regarding previous dismissed and expunged arrest. The word "terrorist" is allowed by trial judge to prejudice jury.
1994 - (August) FBI try to interview Olsen in jail. She refuses to speak to them without her attorney. They never contact her attorney. They begin a sham investigation of a fictitious murder as a means to interview many persons closely or distantly known by Olsen. At FBI order, Olsen's boyfriend is fingerprinted at gunpoint on the hood of a County policecar.
1994 - (August 31) After a 26 day hunger strike undertaken by Olsen to interest the media in the illegalities of her trial, she is sentenced to four years in prison instead of the probation promised by the trial judge.
1994 - (September 8) Olsen enters prison. Despite a minimum security classification, Olsen is denied transfer to a minimum security prison. It becomes evident that "Possession of Explosives" is entered as the charge against her, which is used as a justification. She is denied vegetarian diet. Unbeknownst to Olsen, the FBI convenes a Grand Jury against her October 24, in attempt to obtain an indictment against her for a different case, one in which the media reported "smokebombs" found in various Chicago department stores in November, 1993. Due to lack of evidence, the Grand Jury fails to scapegoat Olsen.
1994 - (December 1) Olsen is transferred to medium security prison, in cell with eight others due to overcrowding. Olsen, disabled with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/CFIDS) since early 1994, deteriorates severely in health due to acute-chronic sleep deprivation. She is denied supplemental iron (FeSO4) and her hematocrit drops rapidly.
1994 - (December 28) The Appellate Court orders the prison to delete "every reference to 'Explosives'" from Olsen's record. This is ignored by Illinois Dept. of Corrections.
1995 - (January 4) Olsen is denied clemency by the Parole Board. Persons who speak on her behalf are interrogated regarding their "arrest records/terrorist affiliations."
1995 - (January 5) An elderly civil rights activist-conscientious objector who spoke the day before is visited by the FBI with a subpoena for his fingerprints and hair sample, to attempt to criminalize him for the next FBI Grand Jury.
1995 - (February 2) The FBI convenes a 2nd Grand Jury to try to indict Olsen as scapegoat for smokebomb case. They orderher entire palms printed in prison, and subpoena her bank records. There is no connection between the scapegoat, Olsen, and the fingerprints of some other person found on the evidence. Indictment fails again, despite FBI verbally elevating "smokebombs" to "bombs," demonizing Olsen as a "terrorist," and wrongfully reporting her State conviction as for possession of "Explosives."³
1995 - (April 20) Due to intercession by State Representative Barbara Flynn Currie, Olsen is transferred to a minimum security prison with better food and medical care.1995 - (End of May). FBI attempt to interview Olsen in prison;Olsen again directs them to contact her attorney andoffers to take a polygraph test regarding any case in which they may be considering her as a suspect. FBI attempt three times to Olsen/FBI State Target enter/bribe entry into her apartment, now occupied by a cat-sitter college student whom Olsen has never met. The house-sitter is warned by Olsen's attorney never to speak to them without an attorney present.
1995 - (August 4) Olsen's conviction is Reversed and Remanded for retrial due to illegality of first trial (conviction overturned).
1995 - (August 5) Olsen's attorney, Julius Echeles, writes the FBI welcoming the FBI to search Olsen's apartment in his presence, give her a polygraph test, monitor her electronically or tap her phone to rule her out as a suspect. The FBI never respond.
1995 - (October 10) Olsen bonds out of prison two days before her outdate to avoid being re-arrested on the same case on the date her prison sentence finishes.
1995 - (October 13) Olsen voluntarily enters Cook County Jail to receive an electronic ankle monitor that restricts her to house arrest in an unprecedented attempt to verify her whereabouts to police and avoid set-ups while awaiting retrial.
1996 - (August 20) Judge John Brady refuses to discontinue voluntary electronic detention, although Olsen experiences extreme difficulty obtaining permission for medical or legal appointments, including a brain MRI, while on house arrest.
1997 - (January) Judge Brady is replaced by Judge Robert Bertucci.1997 - (March 25) Judge Bertucci discontinues electronic detention.
1997 - (May 20) Retrial begins, perjury of arresting Detective Robert Schatzel is exposed by attorney Cynthia Giacchetti.
1997 - (June 26) Retrial concludes. Olsen is acquitted of all felonies involving incendiary devices and attempted arson.She is reconvicted of a lesser-grade felony "Unauthorized Use of a Weapon" due to the fact that indictment was obtained at the 1992 Grand Jury by only stating half of the statute to the jurors, who unwittingly issued an indictment because Olsen possessed more than three tablespoons of gasoline fuel. All mention of use as weaponry in the second half of the statute was concealed from them, thus excluding intent and presenting a nominal numerical amount as the sole criteria for indictment.
1997 - (July 22) Olsen receives legal freedom. The one remaining felony conviction, obtained via fraudulant GrandJury indictment, is under appeal.