Two protesters who perched in wooden barricades to block logging on the Nez Perce National Forest have pleaded guilty to federal charges.
Martin Stephen, 25, Boise, and Joshua Burnim, 23, of Fairfield, Conn., each pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of illegally maintaining a structure on the forest and one count of blocking a forest road in the Cove-Mallard area.The two occupied log tripod structures on July 18, refusing to leave when asked by Forest Service employees. They were subsequently arrested.
U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge sentenced each to one year of probation, 50 hours of community service, a $500 fine and ordered them to steer clear of unauthorized activities on forest lands.
Activists have camped in the Nez Perce forest each summer for years to protest logging.