Portland man found guilty of damaging Montana oil pipeline

Great Falls Tribune:

Leonard Higgins

 Leonard Higgins, charged with tampering with an oil pipeline in Montana last year following a four-state climate change demonstration, was found guilty Wednesday by a Chouteau County jury of trespassing and criminal mischief.

The jury, which got the case at 11:15 a.m., returned an hour later with the verdict, which also included the conclusion that Higgins caused more than $1,500 in damage.

District Judge Daniel Boucher set sentencing for Jan. 2.

Following the verdict, Higgins, of Portland, said he was disappointed Boucher did not allow his defense team to present a so-called “necessity” defense in which he would have argued he committed a lesser harm because of an imminent greater harm, in this case climate change.

Had that climate change defense been allowed, Higgins said, the outcome may have been different.

“It was really frustrating not to be able to talk about climate in the courthouse,” Higgins said.

The charges stemmed from Higgins turning off an oil pipeline valve in 2016 located north of the Missouri River in Chouteau County 75 miles northeast of Great Falls as part of a coordinated, four-state effort to raise awareness about climate change.

His trial began Tuesday and the case was given to jurors for deliberation late Wednesday morning.

“This is not about climate change,” Chouteau County Attorney Steven Gannon told jurors during closing arguments. . .