March 29, 2024
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Trio’s trespassing charges dropped Plum Creek accepts DA’s decision

The Piscataquis County District Attorney’s Office has dropped trespassing charges against a group of environmental activists who were briefly detained late last year after taking pictures of Plum Creek’s office in Greenville.

Three members of the group Native Forest Network-Gulf of Maine had received citations for criminal trespassing in November after an encounter with a private security guard hired by Plum Creek.

The three individuals – Emily Posner, Alex Lundberg and John Waters – were videotaping and taking still photographs of the outside of Plum Creek’s building for a future documentary when they were approached by the security guard.

R. Christopher Almy, the Piscataquis County district attorney, said his office was initially under the impression that the three had stayed on the property after being told to leave. But the trespassing charges were dropped after it became clear from subsequent interviews that the three immediately departed, Almy said.

“They left when they were told to leave,” Almy said Tuesday.

The incident highlights the lingering tensions between Plum Creek, which has been the target of vandalism, and some environmental activists, however.

Native Forest Network is an officially recognized intervening party in the Land Use Regulation Commission’s review of Plum Creek’s Moosehead Lake development plan. The volunteer-based, grass-roots organization has taken a “no compromise” stance against Plum Creek’s proposal.

Posner described the security guard as “very confrontational and rude” during that November day. After the group left the property, they hiked partway up nearby Big Moose Mountain to get footage of the sunset over Moosehead.

During their descent, they were intercepted by officers with the Sheriff’s Department and Greenville Police Department as well as game wardens. Posner said the law enforcement officers were also confrontational.

Posner and other group members have accused Plum Creek of attempting to intimidate critics and have criticized the heavy security and police presence at LURC hearings on the development proposal.

“Hopefully, this kind of harassment will stop for folks who are working for ecological justice in the state,” Posner said.

Luke Muzzy, senior land asset manager for Plum Creek, said the company respects the district attorney’s decision to drop the charges. Plum Creek hired its own security in response to the vandalism. And while Plum Creek did not request the additional police presence at the LURC hearings, the company has agreed to pay the bill.

“Over the last couple of years, we have had our office vandalized, our homes vandalized and some of our vehicles vandalized,” Muzzy said. “The company takes the safety of employees very seriously.”

During the most egregious incident, in late 2005, unknown assailants broke windows and threw feces and dead animals at Plum Creek buildings and employees’ homes. There have been no arrests.


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