Two sisters convicted of resisting arrest after trying to take popcorn bought at one Rexburg theater into another have been sentenced to one day each in jail and $50 in fines.
"To arrest someone for having popcorn in the theater is silly," Magistrate Colin Luke said Tuesday before sentencing Joan Bowman, 46, of Layton, Utah; and Susan Anderson, 42, of Rexburg.Luke, a Teton County magistrate, said the women, Rexburg police and management of the Holiday Theatre share responsibility for the incident.
"There's enough blame to go around," he said.
Greg Moeller, attorney for Bowman and Anderson, said the women were considering an appeal or asking for a new trial. Rexburg Prosecutor J.D. Hancock said the city wants to put the case to rest.
In what has become known locally as the "popcorn caper," Bowman, formerly of Idaho Falls, and Anderson were convicted Sept. 26 of charges stemming from the Memorial Day incident. Police forcibly removed the women from the Holiday Theatre after the manager ordered them out for bringing in popcorn from the neighboring Paramount Twin Theaters.
Rexburg police and a Madison County deputy sheriff claimed Bowman and Anderson bit, hit and kicked them and used vulgar language. The sisters denied the allegations and said they were cut, bruised and humiliated.
A jury convicted them of misdemeanor charges of trespassing; obstructing, resisting and delaying a police officer; and battery on a police officer. Luke later dismissed Bowman's trespassing conviction.
On Tuesday, Luke sentenced each woman to one day in jail, 20 hours of community service and $50 in fines and court costs. Anderson was fined an additional $5 for her trespassing conviction.
The magistrate also withheld judgment and placed Bowman and Anderson on six months probation, meaning the convictions can be wiped from their records if they satisfactorily complete their sentences.
Bowman and Anderson have 42 days to appeal the convictions.