Margaret Killjoy

But eavesdropping goes both ways, and one supporter I talked to overheard them talking to each other about how they wish they could drag these cases out even longer. Once court began, defendants went up one by one before the judge. Most entered pleas of not guilty with stipulation. This is, in essence, a way to accept a plea agreement without actually accepting guilt.

So each person went up, pleaded not guilty with stipulation, and then was found guilty by the judge on their lesser charges. The process took three to six minutes per defendant. I tracked it.

So each person went up, pleaded not guilty with stipulation, and then was found guilty by the judge on their lesser charges. The process took three to six minutes per defendant. I tracked it.

So each person went up, pleaded not guilty with stipulation, and then was found guilty by the judge on their lesser charges. The process took three to six minutes per defendant. I tracked it.

The defendants were there for arrests stemming from actions that happened between October 2023 and March 2024, from three different actions, all on nearby Peters Mountain, a mountain which sits on the horizon of Parisburg, Virginia, and which defies the border between Virginia and West Virginia.

The defendants were there for arrests stemming from actions that happened between October 2023 and March 2024, from three different actions, all on nearby Peters Mountain, a mountain which sits on the horizon of Parisburg, Virginia, and which defies the border between Virginia and West Virginia.

The defendants were there for arrests stemming from actions that happened between October 2023 and March 2024, from three different actions, all on nearby Peters Mountain, a mountain which sits on the horizon of Parisburg, Virginia, and which defies the border between Virginia and West Virginia.

Most of the action from the campaign happened on either Peters Mountain or another mountain in another county, Poor Mountain. One action in October 2023, like I said, court has been dragged out for a very long time, was an action in which one person locked themselves to an excavator while others were there in support. The supporters of the action were facing felonies too.

Most of the action from the campaign happened on either Peters Mountain or another mountain in another county, Poor Mountain. One action in October 2023, like I said, court has been dragged out for a very long time, was an action in which one person locked themselves to an excavator while others were there in support. The supporters of the action were facing felonies too.

Most of the action from the campaign happened on either Peters Mountain or another mountain in another county, Poor Mountain. One action in October 2023, like I said, court has been dragged out for a very long time, was an action in which one person locked themselves to an excavator while others were there in support. The supporters of the action were facing felonies too.

Some of them, a while back, were rearrested at their own arraignments, given additional charges, and put into jail for days. It's not hard to imagine why the defendants were nervous in the courtroom that day. Even though most of them had already sorted out their plea agreements ahead of time, the state is fickle, condescending, and unpredictable.

Some of them, a while back, were rearrested at their own arraignments, given additional charges, and put into jail for days. It's not hard to imagine why the defendants were nervous in the courtroom that day. Even though most of them had already sorted out their plea agreements ahead of time, the state is fickle, condescending, and unpredictable.

Some of them, a while back, were rearrested at their own arraignments, given additional charges, and put into jail for days. It's not hard to imagine why the defendants were nervous in the courtroom that day. Even though most of them had already sorted out their plea agreements ahead of time, the state is fickle, condescending, and unpredictable.

One of the defendants that I talked to told me about their own case. The evidence supporting the charges against pretty much everyone was weak, but the evidence supporting the charges against this particular person were particularly weak. The state kept offering this person plea deals before anyone else. Will you be offering the same deal to my co-defendants? The defendant kept asking.

One of the defendants that I talked to told me about their own case. The evidence supporting the charges against pretty much everyone was weak, but the evidence supporting the charges against this particular person were particularly weak. The state kept offering this person plea deals before anyone else. Will you be offering the same deal to my co-defendants? The defendant kept asking.

One of the defendants that I talked to told me about their own case. The evidence supporting the charges against pretty much everyone was weak, but the evidence supporting the charges against this particular person were particularly weak. The state kept offering this person plea deals before anyone else. Will you be offering the same deal to my co-defendants? The defendant kept asking.

The state kept saying no, so the defendant kept refusing the deal. That defendant came to court fully expecting to stand trial rather than take a better deal than what their co-defendants were getting. The big story of the day actually revolves around that particular point.

The state kept saying no, so the defendant kept refusing the deal. That defendant came to court fully expecting to stand trial rather than take a better deal than what their co-defendants were getting. The big story of the day actually revolves around that particular point.

The state kept saying no, so the defendant kept refusing the deal. That defendant came to court fully expecting to stand trial rather than take a better deal than what their co-defendants were getting. The big story of the day actually revolves around that particular point.

At least one of the defendants who came prepared to stand trial last Tuesday wound up being offered much more generous plea agreements at the last minute because the state knew its case against them was flimsy. Those who accepted non-cooperating plea deals were hit with suspended sentences, community service, and restitution.