In a trial that had been dubbed the "Texaco Seven," charges were dismissed against three defendants while the remaining four, including UNM American Studies Professor Bob Anderson, were convicted of criminal trespass Wednesday.
Each of the four defendants convicted, also including UNM students Julie Buckland and Cara McClendon, were sentenced to six months of probation, 20 hours of community service and were asked by presiding Judge Marie Baca not to return to the Texaco gas station where they had chained themselves to gas pumps in April to protest U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
"I think this will help us," Anderson said. "We have a war to stop that President Bush and the oil companies are getting ready to unleash."
Anderson said the publicity generated by the trial has helped bring attention to the group's cause of peace in the Middle East and the formation of a Palestinian state.
"The real criminal act is what's happened to the Palestinian people and what's going to happen to the people of Iraq," Anderson said.
According to the New Mexico State Police report, the April 8 protest, which also included about 20 to 30 other protestors who were not arrested, took place at the Texaco gas station at 2137 Carlisle Blvd.
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Anderson, Buckland and McClendon were among the seven who were on trial for locking themselves to four gas pumps using an apparatus consisting of chains, locks, ropes and plastic tubing.
Each defendant in the trial was charged with multiple crimes including disobeying an officer, unlawful assembly and concealing their identities. However, all charges except criminal trespass were dropped by prosecutors after the defendants waived their right to a trial by jury.
The defendants sat in the first row of the gallery, further jamming the already crowded courtroom, because its size would not allow them and their five lawyers to sit in the area in front of the courtroom spectators.
Just before proceedings began, Anderson turned to courtroom spectators and handed out bumper stickers that read "Attack Iraq? - No."
Prosecutors called two witnesses to the stand including an Albuquerque Police Department officer and the attendant who was working at the gas station the day of the protest.
Attorneys for the defendants did not call any witnesses.
The central issue of the trial was proper identification of each of the defendants.
The gas station attendant could not specifically say if any of the seven defendants on trial were actually the people who chained themselves to the pumps. The police officer that testified could not accurately recall which pump specific defendants were chained to and photographs taken at the scene by police only pictured four of the seven defendants.
Based on witness testimony and photographs, Baca dismissed the criminal trespass charges against three of the defendants, including former UNM student Jacqueline Storr.
After denying requests by lawyers to dismiss charges against the remaining four defendants, Baca found them guilty and passed sentence. In addition to the probation and community service, the group was also ordered to pay court costs and fees associated with the trial.
"I think it's good some of our folks got off," Anderson said.
After the judgment was announced, the court's gallery applauded and cheered.
"I disagree with the verdict, there was no criminal intent," Buckland said. "I am happy with my sentence and the opportunity to contribute 20 hours to the Peace and Justice Center."
The Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice is a nonprofit organization that assists local activists with resources such as meeting space and a library. The group's lawyers requested it to be the organization for the group to donate its community service hours toward.
Anderson said regardless of the outcome of the trial, the protest was a success and has helped raise awareness of the plight of the people of Palestine and the Middle East. But he added, it will take more protests and civil action to bring about true change in the foreign policy of the United States.
"Boycott big oil," Buckland said.
