APPEALS court upholds convictions, sentences of Sharpton, three others

Thursday, June 14th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

BOSTON (AP) _ A federal appeals court Thursday upheld the convictions and sentences of the Rev. Al Sharpton and three New York politicians who were arrested during a demonstration against Navy bombing exercises on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques.

Sharpton, along with New York City Councilman Adolfo Carrion, state Assemblyman Jose Rivera and Bronx County Democratic Party chairman Roberto Ramirez, were arrested in Puerto Rico on May 1 for trespassing on government property.

Sharpton was given a 90-day sentence because of a prior conviction for civil disobedience. The three others were each sentenced to 40 days.

The men appealed to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which has jurisdiction over Puerto Rico.

They claimed they were denied the right to choose their own attorney and were not given enough time to prepare for their trial. They were tried, convicted and sentenced in one day in a federal court in Puerto Rico.