A federal judge in Tucson has reversed the misdemeanor convictions of four activists, saying members of the humanitarian group No More Deaths were led by "sincere religious beliefs" when placing water and food for migrants in the desert. The survival supplies were placed in Arizona's protected Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge near the U.S.-Mexico border.
Judge Rosemary Marquez wrote in the opinion filed Monday the four met the guidelines for establishing they acted on their beliefs.
The four had appealed another judge's ruling a year ago finding them guilty of federal misdemeanors after being cited by federal wildlife officers for driving a truck into the wilderness area and leaving bottles of water and other supplies.
