Nuns Convicted in Missile-Silo Protest

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Monday April 7, 2003 8:40 PM


DENVER (AP) - A federal jury convicted three Roman Catholic nuns Monday of defacing a missile silo by swinging hammers and painting crosses on it with their own blood.

Sisters Ardeth Platte, 66, Jackie Hudson, 68, and Carol Gilbert, 55, were arrested for breaking into a Minuteman III missile silo site on Colorado's northeastern plains Oct. 6. They were charged with interfering with the nation's defense and causing property damage of more than $1,000.

The nuns are peace activists and have said they were compelled to act as war with Iraq moved closer and because the United States has never promised not to use nuclear weapons. Their defense lawyers argued the nuns' action was symbolic and never jeopardized national security.

Jurors deliberated for about two hours Friday and five hours Monday before delivering the verdict in U.S. District Court.

The three women face a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison when they are sentenced July 25.