Immediately after entering the plea , however , Olson told reporters that she was innocent and that she had decided to take a plea bargain due to the climate after the September 11 attacks , in which she felt an accused bomber could not receive a fair trial from a jury . " It became clear to me that the incident would have a remarkable effect on the outcome of this trial ... the effect was probably going to be negative , " she said . " That 's really what governed this decision , not the truth or honesty , but what was probably in my best interests and the interests of my family . " Angered by Olson 's announcement that she had lied in court , Superior Court Judge Larry Fidler ordered another hearing on November 6 , at which he asked her several times if she was indeed guilty of the charges . Olson replied " I want to make it clear , Your Honor , that I did not make that bomb . I did not possess that bomb . I did not plant that bomb . But under the concept of aiding and abetting , I plead guilty . " On November 13 , Olson filed a motion requesting to withdraw her guilty plea and acknowledged that she did not misunderstand the judge when he read the charges against her . Rather , she said : On December 3 , 2001 , Fidler offered to let Olson testify under oath about her role in the case . She refused . He then wondered " I took those pleas twice ... were you lying to me then or are you lying to me now ? " — and denied her request to withdraw her plea . Observers expected her to serve only three to five years , but on January 18 , 2002 , she was sentenced to two consecutive 10-years-to-life terms . Fidler warned that according to California law , the Board of Prison Terms could later change the sentence to a lesser term . Olson 's lawyers asserted that due to discrepancies between 1970s laws and current California laws , their client would most likely serve only five years , which could turn into two years for good behavior . The Board of Prison Terms did later change the sentence
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Sara Jane Olson