Forest Protester Convicted

A Montana man protesting timber sales on the Nez Perce National Forest faces sentencing July 24 after being convicted of trespassing in a forest area while it was closed.

John F. Kreilick, 35, of Missoula, faces up to six months in jail and a fine up to $5,000.

U.S. Magistrate Mikel Williams rejected Kreilick’s contention that the closure order infringed upon his First Amendment rights and that the “necessity” defense applied - that he broke the law to prevent more serious violations from occurring.

Kreilick was charged with entering the Noble Creek timber sale area of the Nez Perce National Forest on June 27, 1995, after the Forest Service closed the area.

The Noble Creek timber sale is in the Cove/Mallard area, where environmentalists have been protesting road building and logging for five years.

Kreilick, a member of the Native Forest Network, was identified from videotape of an incident involving another protester convicted of violating the same closure order.

Witnesses said on Tuesday that Kreilick was seen in the area where Richard Valois of Sun River, Mont., was being arrested after locking himself by the neck to a gate.