Activist pleads innocent to federal charge

Charges:  Publicly insulting a government employee and slapping him on the butt

 [ Read Will Snodgrass' Press Release ]

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Activist pleads innocent to federal charge

A Missoula environmental activist found himself in federal court this week, facing charges that he publicly insulted a U.S. Forest Service employee and slapped him on the butt.

Will Snodgrass was arraigned in U.S. District Court in Missoula on a charge of threatening, resisting, intimidating or interfering with a forest officer, which is considered a petty offense under federal law. Snodgrass pleaded innocent.

According to court documents, Snodgrass allegedly committed the offense at a Missoula Vegetation Management open house on Feb. 20 at Missoula's Boone and Crockett Club. Snodgrass allegedly interrupted a conversation between Forest Service weed specialist Andy Kulla and another man, called Kulla an "idiot" and slapped him on the butt before walking away.

In a press release issued by Snodgrass, he called the federal charge an attempt "to stifle public comment."

"Along with others, Snodgrass believes the law is being abused here in a blatant attempt to stifle his criticism of the U.S. Forest Service pesticide use, which has caused widespread health effects in wildlife and people," Snodgrass wrote in the press release.

Snodgrass is well-known in local environmental and public health circles for his criticism of the use of pesticides and other toxic chemicals. He has been a regular speaker for several years at Missoula City Council and other public agency meetings.

 http://www.missoulian.com/display/inn_news/news15.txt

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