Erie 6 Verdict (October 25, 2007)

From Goerie.com:

Article published Oct 25, 2007

War protesters receive 5-day jail sentences

Six war protesters who locked arms in March to block the doors of the federal courthouse in Erie have been found guilty of contempt of court for not paying fines related to their earlier charges of obstructing a public area, a petty offense in federal court.

Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Paradise Baxter sentenced all six to serve five days in jail.

One of the six, 71-year-old Beth Rockwell, will serve her time on house arrest because of a health condition. The rest — Robert H. Johnson, 61; Anne McCarthy, 51; Richard Quiggle, 58; Katie White, 55; and James Wise, 67 — are already in the custody of federal marshals and the Bureau of Prisons.

The group, organized through the Erie Peace Initiative, disrupted business at the U.S. District Courthouse on March 19, the fourth anniversary of President Bush ordering the invasion of Iraq. They were all fined $500 for the offense.

Three others involved in the protest paid their fines. The other six refused.

-- Staff report

Go to Friday's Erie Times-News for more coverage.