Three anti-nuclear weapons activists arrested July 28 in the high-security Protected Area at the Y-12 National Security Complex have been indicted by a federal grand jury on three counts of trespassing, property depredation, and property destruction.
The three defendants—Greg Boertje-Obed, Megan Rice, and Michael R. Walli—are expected to be arraigned this morning in U.S. District Court in Knoxville.
The indictment alleges that Boertje-Obed, Rice, and Walli willfully and maliciously destroyed and injured, and attempted to destroy and injure, property at Y-12.
It also charges them with committing property depredation by cutting, defacing, and painting property at Y-12, causing more than $1,000 in damage.
It also says the three activists, who called their intrusion Transform Now Plowshares, entered Y-12 without permission.
During an arraignment, the defendants are read the charges against them and advised of their rights, and they plead guilty or not guilty.
This morning’s court hearing starts at 9:30 a.m.
The activists last appeared in federal court on Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge C. Clifford Shirley. At that time, they were charged with misdemeanor trespassing and felony property destruction
They are accused of crossing four fences at Y-12, cutting through three of them, early in the morning on Saturday, July 28, before entering the Protected Area, where they allegedly sprayed paint, hung banners, and splashed blood on the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility, where bomb-grade uranium is stored.
The unprecedented security breach has led to a temporary halt in nuclear operations at Y-12 as well as some staff changes. U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu has called the penetration of the Protected Area, which has attracted national media attention and raised questions about the plant’s security, “unacceptable and deeply troubling.”
Susie Williams Taylor says
I certainly hope these people are treated like “terrorists” and NOT like “activists” which they claim to be…no, they were not “armed” with lethal weapons, however, they did breach security or the lack of and knowing this occurred, the residents of Oak Ridge Reservation were “terrified” and alarmed this happened! They deserve much more than a “slap on the wrist”. This breach of security has been an eye opener….if these activists had been younger and all men, I cannot help but wonder if the outcome would have been different! ALL “what ifs” come into play~~~
Peggy Tiner says
Their actions resulted in loss of use of the property costing much more than the property damage. These elder juvenille delinquents need to be given a penalty commensurate with all the costs the facility incurred by their actions. Their intent was not to protest, but to shut down the facility, and they did. The penalty should be more than a symbolic slap on the wrist – anyone strong to do what they did is strong enough to serve time
johnhuotari says
So far, the total prison sentence adds up to 16 years, depending upon a variety of factors, including whether they are convicted and whether their sentences, if any, are to be served consecutively. And I think the total fine is up to $600,000. I don’t know if they federal government is able to add any additional charges at this point.
Floyd Glenn says
I hope they use the fine money to repair the PIDAS. I also hope they use the money to hire managers who have a back ground in physical security.
johnhuotari says
I assume the fines, if assessed and paid, would add up to a maximum of $1.8 million total. I’m not sure who would actually receive the money.