7 gas pipeline protesters plan to fight trespassing charges

Seven people arrested at a protest of a $3 billion pipeline being built to carry natural gas from northeastern Pennsylvania to Southern states intend to fight their charges at trial.

LNP newspaper reports the protesters entered not guilty pleas to charges of defiant criminal trespass on Monday.

The people were arrested in October after trying to keep construction crews off a cornfield owned by a Roman Catholic order of nuns. The Adorers of the Blood of Christ have sued in federal court to stop the project. The lawsuit was dismissed by a federal judge. That ruling is under appeal.

Thirteen other people arrested at the protest pleaded no contest. Two pleaded guilty. Another is being processed through the juvenile court system.

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Information from: LNP, http://lancasteronline.com