Eco-terrorists, take note: An 18-year-old man who has admitted to torching an animal science facility on the Brigham Young University campus on behalf of a militant animal rights group could spend several years in a federal prison.

Prosecutors dropped a more serious charge against Harrison David Burrows — one that could have netted him decades in prison — but he still faces one count of destruction of property by fire, which carries a minimum sentence of 5 years.

Prosecutors say they did not file the case to send a message, but there is no question that it already has piqued attention, and rightly so. Several of Burrows' friends showed up in court last week to support him and to argue that he is not a terrorist. And yet, the crime he is accused of committing is indeed a form of terrorism.

Fires can be particularly dangerous because of the risks posed to people who may be in the buildings, as well to firefighters. Beyond that are the vast financial losses they cause.

The thought that a mop-topped teenager could spend at least 5 of his formative early-adult years behind bars is sobering. But the penalties for eco-terrorism are stiff precisely because the crimes generally involve activities that put other people in grave danger. Although no one was injured in the fire at BYU, the arson resulted in $30,000 in damage and was the third attack on the facility since May. In each of the three incidents, perpetrators left spray-painted messages in support of the militant Animal Liberation Front.

Meanwhile, investigators are continuing their probe of an arson fire in a West Jordan lumberyard. Earth Liberation Front, a sister organization of ALF, claimed responsibility for that fire, which resulted in $1.5 million in losses.

While the courts sort out Burrows' case, including arguments over whether he should be released pending trial, one fact remains. Arsons capture headlines, but they do nothing to advance the positions of radical environmental and animal rights organizations. Rational people quit listening when organizations resort to terrorism to "further" their causes.

Americans are among the freest people on earth. There are so many legitimate means by which to seek social change that do not involve criminal activity or endanger the lives of innocents. People of good will who disagree with a particular issue can take their complaint to court. They can express themselves in peaceful protest, write letters to the editor or conduct a press conference. They can lobby elected officials or the boards of directors of private companies.

The Burrows case illustrates that people bent on eco-terrorism need to realize that whatever satisfaction they derive from destroying property or businesses, or from disrupting activities they deem objectionable, will be incredibly brief compared to the prospect of spending years behind bars for an act of domestic terrorism.