Judge Viola Sentences Juche Collective; Three Get Jail Terms, All Seven Fined

Seven members of the Juche collective have been convicted on charges stemming from the November 17 police raid on their home.

The convictions include "being in a place where a narcotics warrant is served," and "illegal possession of firearms without firearms licenses." The decisions will be appealed in the Middlesex Superior Court.

Judge M. Edward Viola handed down the judgement in the Third District Court of East Middlesex County on December 21, the third day of the trial.

Prison

Three members of the group received prison sentences totaling nine months, and the seven were fined a total of $10,300.

William Anderson, Marya Merrick, David Tarlo were fined $1000 each for being in a place where a narcotics warrant is served. George Katsiaficas was fined $2000 for the same offense. In addition, William Boatwright was fined $1200, Richard Edelman $2100 and Richard Elwin $2000 for possession of various drugs, ranging from marijuana to opium.

Elwin, Boatwright, and Edelman were convicted of illegal possession of firearms without firearm identification cards, and conspiracy to unlawfully possess firearms. Boatwright received concurrently-running six-month sentences on both counts. Edelman and Elwin received 30-day sentences on each charge, with the prison terms running consecutively.

Questioned about the collective's reaction to the conviction, Elwin said, "We are still doing the same things as before we got busted. We are starting a bookstore and we should have another issue of Juche out in a couple of weeks.

"Since we got busted, we are getting more support from the freaks, movement people, and street people," he added. "But in general there's not a whole lot of difference-most people don't give a damn."