Protester fined $300 for not leaving Mohave County, Ariz., government meeting

KINGMAN, Ariz. -- An activist who has twice been arrested during peaceful but defiant demonstrations at the Mohave County government complex in northwest Arizona was sentenced Thursday in Kingman.

Mervin "Pitchfork" Fried, 46, was fined $300 for a criminal trespassing conviction.

Fried was arrested for refusing to leave a Board of Supervisors meeting while wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with an "F__ the tax" inscription across the front. He was convicted during a bench trial before Judge Michael Slovek.

Fried beat a previous trespassing charge during a bench trial before another judge related to his February 2010 arrest for carrying a pitchfork into the county administration building after County Manager Ron Walker and security officers met him at the entrance and told him to stay out of the structure.

"It would appear that the state has a vendetta against me because of my previous activities at the county building and the fact that I was found innocent on a previous charge of criminal trespassing," Fried said during his sentencing hearing.

County attorney Matt Smith urged the Court to impose a fine and some community service as punishment to send a message to the community.

Slovek said jail was inappropriate and that community service would serve no purpose in Fried's case. He directed Fried to pay a $300 fine.

Fried and defense attorney Eric Engan said they will appeal the conviction and sentence. Fried also said he'll bring a civil lawsuit against the county.

Following his sentencing Fried visited the elections office and took out papers to run for the Board of Supervisors.