Laura Kriho, whose case was profiled in last month's NEWS, was fined $1,200 at her sentencing in Gilpin County, CO. No jail time was imposed.

The prosecutor asked that Kriho be fined severely because, the prosecutor said, she was "likely to re-offend."

Kriho was found guilty of contempt of court in part for her failure to volunteer her beliefs on certain drug laws.

Kriho did not make any mitigating statements on her own behalf; however, former Colorado State Sen. Lloyd Casey spoke eloquently on her behalf.

Kriho and her attorney, Paul Grant, plan to appeal the decision.

More than 150 people attended her sentencing and a demostration beforehand. Court TV, local television stations, and many print media covered the sentencing.

"I am thankful they didn't put me in jail," Kriho said. "I still feel I would never have been prosecuted if I had voted guilty on the jury. I want to prevent this from happening to anyone else again, so we will appeal my conviction. I don't want anyone to have to be afraid to serve on a jury."

"I think the appellate court will overturn" the decision, Grant said.

"The court is trying to intimidate anyone with an independent mind. We should all be very concerned about this case," he said.

"The judges will regret the Pandora's box they have opened," he predicted.

Grant said he had received numerous letters of support and donations from Libertarian Party members.

For more information, contact the Laura Kriho Legal Defense Fund, c/o Paul Grant, P.O. Box 1272, Parker, CO 80134.

Conviction Overturned

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