A judge has found a group of Westchester County activists guilty of disorderly conduct for blocking the site of a pipeline project under construction.
The trial judge Friday found the so-called “Montrose 9” guilty of disorderly conduct in blocking traffic on Route 9A to a Spectra Energy construction equipment site in Montrose in November 2015. The nine Westchester residents were trying to prevent construction of the Algonquin Incremental Market, or AIM, pipeline.
The activists pleaded not guilty, claiming their actions were necessary to prevent a greater harm, known as the necessity defense. Their attorney says they will appeal the decision after sentencing January 6.
The project starts in Rockland County and moves through Westchester and Putnam Counties before heading into Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.