May 29, 2014

Y-12 PROTESTERS ORDERED TO PAY $52,953, SENTENCING DELAYED

By ExchangeMonitor

One of the most watched protest cases in the history of the nuclear weapons complex took another unusual turn Tuesday when the sentencing hearing for three Plowshares protesters had to be postponed—even as it neared its conclusion—because of an unexpected snowfall that forced the shutdown of the federal courthouse in Knoxville. After consulting with federal prosecutors and defense attorneys, U.S. District Judge Amul R. Thapar ordered the hearing would resume at 9 a.m. on Feb. 18.

Sister Megan Rice, 83, Michael R. Walli, 64, and Greg Boertje-Obed, 58, were convicted in May on federal charges of attempting to injure the national defense and depredation of government property. Earlier Tuesday, after listening to arguments, the federal judge ordered the trio to pay $52,953 in restitution to the government for damages incurred during the July 28, 2012 incursion at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant in Oak Ridge. Lawyers for the protesters have pushed for lighter sentences for the trio, but prosecutors have argued that the protesters should be held responsible for their actions. “They have shown no remorse or contrition for their acts,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Theodore said Tuesday, arguing that the protesters should not be able to use “acceptance of responsibility” as a means to get a reduced sentence.

Because of the seriousness of the felony charges, especially the injuring defense charge that falls under the federal Sabotage Act, the protesters were not allowed release from jail in the past eight months while awaiting sentencing. Most of the time was spent at the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, Ga. They will remain incarcerated until the next sentencing hearing.

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