According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District Tennessee:

On February 18, 2014, Michael Walli, Megan Rice, and Greg Boertje-Obed were sentenced in U.S. District Court by the Honorable Amul Thapar, U.S. District Judge. Sister Megan Rice was sentenced to serve 35 months in prison.

Walli and Boertje-Obed were each sentenced to serve 62 months in prison. All three will serve three years’ supervised release upon their release from prison. Additionally, these individuals were ordered to pay $52,953 in restitution to the Department of Energy.

These individuals were convicted in May 2013 of one count of injuring national defense premises, that is, the Y-12 National Security Complex, with the intent to interfere with the national defense of the United States and another count of depredation against property of the United States.

U.S. Attorney William C. Killian commended the sentences and said he hoped it would send a strong message.“The Y-12 National Security Complex plays a critical role in our country’s national defense. People cannot take the law into their own hands and unlawfully intrude upon sensitive government facilities. Those who violate the law and compromise the security of the Y-12 National Security Complex will be vigorously prosecuted.”

Facts (according to the U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit majority)

In the dark of night on July 28, 2012, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, an 82 year-old nun and two Army veterans, ages 57 and 63, cut their way through four layers of fences and reached a building where the Department of Energy stores enriched uranium. There the trio spray-painted antiwar slogans, hung crime tape and banners with biblical phrases, splashed blood, and sang hymns. When a security guard finally arrived, the group offered him bread and read aloud a prepared message about “transforming weapons into real life-giving alternatives to build true peace.” Then the group surrendered to the guard’s custody.......

1. Do you agree with the defendants?

2. Should they be released from prison?