2009/06/26: 17 Blackwater protesters plead guilty

Galena Gazette

The 22 people charged with misdemeanor trespass went before a judge in Jo Daviess Circuit Court in Galena on Wednesday, June 24. Seventeen pleaded guilty; five pleaded not guilty. Bench trials were scheduled for four of those five.The protest was held on April 27 outside of and on the property of the private security company Xe, formerly known as Blackwater. The 22 defendants are charged with knowingly entering upon the lands of Xe, off of Skunk Hollow Road in Stockton, after receiving notice from the owner that entry was forbidden.

None of the protestors from Jo Daviess County crawled under the gates.If convicted, the remaining defendants could face a maximum penalty of a $1,500 fine and/or six months in jail.

Those who pleaded guilty were sentenced to one year of supervision and fined $250. They are:

Frederick Anglada, 29, of LaMotte, Iowa;

Kenneth Bishop, 24, of Champaign;

Edward Bloomer, 62, of Des Moines, Iowa;

Tyler Chen, 24, of Champaign;

Frank Cordaro, 58, of Des Moines, Iowa;

Elton Davis, 48, of Des Moines, Iowa;

Christine Gaunt, 52, of Grinnell, Iowa;

Carolyn Griffeth, 36, of St. Louis, Mo.;

Benjamin Johnson, 28, of Dubuque;

Christine Kirchhoefer, 32, of St. Louis, Mo.;

Michael Leutgeb-Munson, 26, of Rushford, Minn,;

Mary Moody, 45, of LaMotte, Iowa;

Laurie Nobilette, 23, of Champaign;

Nicholas Pickrell, 28, of Kansas City, Mo.;

Mona Shaw, 58, of Des Moines, Iowa;

Frederick Turk, 70, of Rock Falls; and

Christopher Watson, 22, of Champaign.

Five of the group pleaded not guilty. Bench trials are set Sept. 4 for Lee Jankoski, 50, of Griggsville; Rebecca Lambert, 25, of Winona, Minn.; Roberta S. Thurstin, 65, of Park Falls, Wis.(WNPJ Individual Member); and Donald Timmerman, 67, of Park Falls, Wis (WNPJ Individual Member). According to court documents, they will be represented by Chicago attorney Edward Osowski.

Michael Walli, 60, of Duluth, Minn., also pleaded not guilty and requested the public defender. Another plea date is scheduled for Wednesday, July 22.

Earlier story and video.