Pilgrim Critic Found Guilty of Trespassing, Will Not Face Jail Time

Anti-Pilgrim activist Paul Rifkin after receiving probation and community service for trespassing at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant in Plymouth in May of 2015

Anti-Pilgrim activist Paul Rifkin after receiving probation and community service for trespassing at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant in Plymouth in May of 2015

PLYMOUTH – A long-time critic of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant was found guilty of trespassing on station property in 2015, but will not face jail time for the offense.

Cotuit resident Paul Rifkin, 73, received probation and community service after an hour of deliberation at Plymouth District Court yesterday.

Rifkin was arrested following a protest at Pilgrim last May, the third time he has been arrested at the station. Rifkin called the incident an act of civil disobedience.

“I realize that there was a ‘no trespassing’ sign that I was going beyond, but I was looking to a higher authority than the sign,” Rifkin said. “I was going towards my conscience.”

Rifkin argues the plant presents a serious public safety danger and wants it shut down immediately. Plant owner Entergy plans to close Pilgrim by June of 2019, saying it is no longer financially viable.

Pilgrim is currently subject to additional inspections and scrutiny by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission after a series of failed or sub-par inspections. The plant has had multiple unplanned shutdowns in recent years.

By MATT McCARTHY, CapeCod.com NewsCenter.

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