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Three more nuclear protesters sentenced in Louisa County Date published: 9/24/2008
By RUSTY DENNEN Three more anti-nuclear protesters were convicted yesterday for trespassing last month at the North Anna Power Station visitor center. Paxus Calta, an activist, described in Louisa County General District Court as the "ringleader," was sentenced yesterday to two weeks in jail. He's appealing the conviction. The two other protesters, Spot Etal and Sue Frankel-Streit, were fined $250 each. Instead of jail time, they will be allowed to complete 40 hours of community service. All three were banned from entering property of the plant's owner, Dominion power, for two years. About 20 supporters gathered with signs outside the Louisa courthouse. "I am pleased with these sentences and I hope that they send a message that trespassing and breaking the law will be taken seriously in Louisa County," Louisa Commonwealth's Attorney Tom Garrett said in a press release. After the court hearing, Calta, who lives in Louisa, contended that he was unfairly singled out. "At no point was there any indication that I was the ringleader," he said. Calta is a member of Peoples Alliance for Clean Energy. "This trial is not about trespassing. It is about putting nuclear power on trial. It's a false solution to our climate problems." The peaceful protest at the visitor center was in opposition to Dominion's plan to build a third reactor at the North Anna plant. The company is in the final stage of the application process before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In August, three other protesters were sentenced to jail and $2,500 fines. However, the jail time was suspended and the fines were reduced to $1,250 each. The penalty for Class 1 misdemeanor trespassing is up to a year in jail and a fine of not more than $2,500, either or both. They appealed and are scheduled for a court appearance in Louisa on Oct. 20. The six arrested Aug. 7 were among more than 20 demonstrators at the visitor center, which is located outside the secure area of the plant. They were charged after refusing to leave when asked by police. The plant, near Mineral, sits on 13,000-acre Lake Anna, which borders Spotsylvania, Louisa and Orange counties. Rusty Dennen: 540/374-5431
Believing everything you read in the media and attacking those mentioned via a website in which you are fairly anonymous makes you no better than how awful you assume these people are.
If you could take that energy you spent on writing that negative comment and instead share a positive moment or appreciation with someone else, the world would be much better off.
Live and let live.
seeking attention without a clue about energy, democracy or even life. Lock 'em up for a while and let them ponder these things.
Maybe the fact that he was giving a lesson in "civil disobedience" as part of a breakout session of the Southeastern Climate Convergence had something to do with it.
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