Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch (pg. B1), July 2, 2008

PROTEST MAY LEAD TO TIME IN JAIL

The 'Tredegar 12' face trial July 29 but maybe not repayment

By Michael Martz, Times-Dispatch Staff Writer

First came the cause.

Now come the consequences.

Twelve political activists could face time in jail for their parts in a protest that blockaded the entrance to Dominion Resources' corporate headquarters in downtown Richmond on Monday.

However, they may be spared from repaying the city for police, fire and rescue costs in responding to the protest . The protest blocked Tredegar Street at Dominion's gate beneath the Lee Bridge and caused a traffic jam at morning rush hour that reached to the Powhite Parkway.

Police and fire officials said they don't have estimates of their costs and will not pursue recovery. "We don't want to give them that much credit," said Richmond police spokeswoman Karla Peters.

The "Tredegar 12" will face trial July 29 in the traffic division of Richmond General District Court on charges of obstruction of justice and blocking a rescue vehicle during the protest , which was aimed at Dominion Virginia Power's plans to build a $1.8 billion coal -fired power plant in Southwest Virginia. The state issued the air-pollution permits for the project last week.

Also on Monday, Dominion Virginia Power began construction of the plant in Wise County and also announced that it will attempt to build a third nuclear reactor at its North Anna power plant in Louisa County, which was a secondary target of this week's protest .

"We didn't mean to cause any harm to the city," said Marley Green, a 22-year-old college student from Harrisonburg, in statement released by the group. "We felt the action was a necessary step that had to take place."

Green was the most visible player in the protest , which began by surprise Monday at 7 a.m. He dangled in a climber's harness from the pedestrian footbridge to Belle Isle for more than two hours, while four other protesters blocked the street with their hands locked into containers of hardened cement.

He was the only defendant who did not qualify for a court-appointed attorney at a preliminary hearing yesterday before Richmond General District Judge Thomas O. Jones. However, Blue Ridge Earth First! spokeswoman Hannah Morgan said yesterday that an attorney has volunteered to represent Green without charge.

The four protesters who locked themselves into a human chain across the street are Holly E. Garrett, Kaitlyn E. Hart, Barbara Spitz and Alissa J. Walsh. The seven other protesters arrested in support roles are Emily Gillespie, Jason M. Johnson, Amber M. Keller, Lara Mack, Nottingham Parks, Vicente Rosa and Laura Von Dohlen.

Each of the protesters could face up to 12 months in jail on the obstruction charge and up to six months on the charge of interfering with a rescue vehicle, as well as penalties up to $2,500 and $1,000 respectively.

Richmond Commonwealth's Attorney Michael N. Herring said yesterday that he will seek jail time for the protesters and said he wants to send the right message with the prosecution.

"There has to be a proper balance between the constitutional rights of expression on one hand, and public order and property on the other," he said. "If a stay at the hot, uncomfortable city jail isn't a deterrent, I don't know that other penalties may be, either."

Contact Michael Martz at (804) 649-6964 or mmartz@timesdispatch.com