United States v. Susan Alexis Komisaruk

Susan A. Komisaruk appeals from the judgment of conviction for willfully damaging government property in an amount exceeding $100.00 in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1361 . Komisaruk intentionally vandalized an Air Force computer which was assigned to the United States space shuttle program. The estimated cost of repairs for the computer equipment, including labor, exceeded $700,000.00. On June 3, 1987, Komisaruk held a press conference and announced publicly that she had destroyed the ground control center for the Navstar military navigational system. Komisaruk was arrested following the press conference. Komisaruk was found guilty after a jury trial. She was sentenced to serve a term of imprisonment for five years and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $500,000.00.

Komisaruk seeks reversal on the following grounds:

One. The district court erred in issuing an in limine order precluding Komisaruk from introducing evidence of international law, the law of necessity and crime prevention, to raise a reasonable doubt that she possessed the requisite intent for a violation of § 1361.

Two. The district court erred in precluding her from presenting evidence that her motive in…