A Cowlitz County District Court jury Wednesday found four longshore union supporters not guilty of blocking a train bound for the EGT grain terminal Sept. 21.
After a daylong trial presided over by Judge David Koss, the jury acquitted Erica Ranee Farland, 33, of Castle Rock, Cara Marie Lindemann, 34, of Kelso, Kahne Bell Witham, 32, of Longview and Jennifer Lynn Wood, 35, of Kelso of misdemeanor charges. All four are relatives of International Longshore and Warehouse Union members.
On Sept. 21, police arrested Farland, Lindemann, Witham, Wood, five other women and ILWU Local 21 President Dan Coffman for sitting on the tracks at the Port of Longview at the far end of Columbia Boulevard and blocking the mile-long train. Cowlitz County Prosecutor Sue Baur said the other five women are scheduled for jury trial in March and that Coffman will be tried separately.
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