NEWS RELEASE
Tucson SOA Watch
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 28, 2007
Contact in Tucson: Jack or Felice Cohen-Joppa 520-323-8697

PRE-TRIAL DETENTION THREAT FOR TWO PRIESTS IN FT. HUACHUCA TORTURE PROTEST

Military prosecutors have told advisory counsel to two Catholic priests that the government will seek pre-trial detention for their nonviolent protest arrest last November 19 at Fort Huachuca, in Sierra Vista, Arizona.

Franciscan Fr. Louie Vitale and Jesuit Fr. Steve Kelly will be arraigned Tuesday, April 3, 8:30 a.m. at the U.S. District Court, 6th floor, 405 W. Congress St., Tucson, Arizona.

Among the reasons given for asking the court that the two men be jailed until trial are the defendants' extensive history of arrests, press accounts, and the likelihood that they will not stop protesting or risking jail for protests while awaiting trial.

The two men were arrested when they sought entry to the base to speak with enlisted personnel and deliver a letter denouncing torture and the Military Commissions Act of 2006 to Major General Barbara Fast, commander at the post.

They were part of a group of 120 people protesting outside the Fort that day against military intelligence training that fosters torture. The men were issued citations for trespass (USC 18-1382) and released.

In February, the two returned to Arizona for arraignment on the charge. Instead, a procedural hearing at Fort Huachuca resulted only in a new citation for both men, on an Arizona charge of "Failure to Comply with Police Officer" (ARS 28-622). If found guilty of both charges, Kelly and Vitale face a maximum sentence of ten months in prison.

Supporters will join with the two men in front of the courthouse at 7:45 a.m. on April 3 to share thoughts and prayers before going inside for the arraignment.
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