AUBURN – A jury has found one of two defendants who sat on train tracks to block a train carrying crude oil guilty of trespassing.

The jury returned the verdict Tuesday against Douglas Bowen Jr. of Porter. A second defendant, Jessie Dowling of Unity, was awaiting the outcome of her case, which was heard by a separate jury.

They were charged with criminal trespassing for blocking the tracks in Auburn in August 2013.

They said they were trying to prevent a disaster in Maine similar to the one in Lac Megantic, Quebec.

The trials began Monday with separate juries in the same Androscoggin County Superior Court courtroom.

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