CPTNet
Puerto Rico: Four CPTers Sentenced in Federal Court

June 29, 2001, San Juan, PR -- In a seven-hour trial in Federal District
Court yesterday, four members of a Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT)
delegation who entered a restricted area on the island of Vieques May 2
were found guilty of trespassing. They were among some 180 others arrested
during the early days of May witnessing against the U.S. Navy's
exploitation of the island for military exercises and bombing
practice. The maneuvers are currently continuing, despite a broad-based
coalition opposing them for the past two years.
        The four, who were tried before a magistrate along with seven Puerto
Ricans arrested in similar actions, were sentenced as follows. Richard C.
Williams, 45, of West New York, NJ30 days in prison; Harold A. Penner, 56,
of Akron PA20 days in prison; Mark Byler, 43, of Goshen IN and Brian Ladd,
32, of Boulder, CO 20 nights in a half-way house, 100 hours of community
service, and 1 year probation. Penner and Williams are being held at the
Guaynabo Detention Center in San Juan where they will serve their
terms. Byler and Ladd expect to travel back to their home communities
shortly, where arrangements will be made to fulfill the requirements of
their sentences;
        The defendants were each allowed to make statements before the court,
which was packed with supporters from the Vieques resistance community.
        In a phone call from prison in San Juan today, Penner reported that he and
Williams are housed with some 85 other prisoners, 75 of them fellow
resisters. Their spirits are high. He passed along the following message,
written on the wall of the holding cell at Guaynabo Detention Center

        "If injustice is the law, disobedience is the order!"

        Penner and Williams may be contacted by mail at the following address
        Richard C. Williams #21470-069
        Harold A. Penner #21471-069
        Metropolitan Detention Center Guaynabo
        PO Box 2147
        San Juan, PR 00920-2147

Christian Peacemaker Teams is a program of Brethren, Quaker and Mennonite
Churches. CPT P. O. Box 6508 Chicago, IL 60680 tel. 312-455-1199 FAX
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