ROCKLAND (AP) – A jury found eight people guilty of criminal trespass Monday for occupying trees along U.S. Route 1 in Warren last June to prevent or delay a road widening project.

A Knox County Superior Court jury deliberated for 21/2 hours before returning the verdicts.

Steve Burke, who helped organize last year’s protest, said two of the defendants agreed to pay $150 fines, while the other six will perform 30 hours of community service for their sentence.

The defendants were among 13 people who were arrested last year when they staged a demonstration over the project’s impact on the neighborhood and to save old trees.

Two of the protesters locked themselves to an 80-year-old chestnut tree, and others occupied platforms on the chestnut tree and two nearby oaks.

The trial began Monday.

AP-ES-06-12-03 1808EDT