Fordham University Environmental Sustainability Ecoterrorism Question

I’m studying and need help with a Environmental Science question to help me learn.

On January 8, 2015 a 37 year old man serving a 19 year prison sentence for environmental terrorism won an early release from prison (New York Times 1/9/15). In 2007, Eric McDavid was convicted of conspiring to bomb targets in California as part of an overall plan to attack and destruct government, as well as commercial infrastructure sites including cell phone towers and dams, which he believed were causing harm to the environment. His lawyers requested the conviction be vacated stating federal authorities withheld information which could have supported his defense.  Both sides agreed to his immediate release from prison, “in order to avoid the expenses and risks of further litigation and to advance the interests of justice.”

Should Mr. McDavid and others sharing his beliefs be construed as heros promoting their cause, serving to protect the welfare of the environment OR clearly terrorists, not unlike those committing heinous crimes against humanity?

Depict at a minimum, (2) scenarios which may lead one to consider Mr. McDavid as either a “hero” OR a “terrorist”.  Elaborate on the reasoning, as well as contributing factors behind that which your point of view is based.