Three men accused by the Crown of helping lead and coordinate the COVID-19 protest blockade at Coutts, Alta., in 2022 have been found guilty of mischief.

Jurors deliberated for three hours Tuesday night before finding Alex Van Herk, Marco Van Huigenbos, and Gerhard (George) Janzen guilty of one count each of mischief over $5,000.

Gasps of surprise were heard in a courtroom packed with supporters of the trio when the verdict was announced.

The three were on trial in Court of King91裸聊视频檚 Bench for their roles in a blockade that tied up cross-border traffic between Canada and the United States at Coutts for two weeks in early 2022 in protest of COVID-19 rules and restrictions.

Court of King91裸聊视频檚 Bench Justice Keith Yamauchi warned the packed courtroom before the six man, six woman jury came back with their verdict.

91裸聊视频淲hile this court understands the vested interest of those assembled this court will not allow those interests to interfere with the jury rendering its verdict without interruption or interjection,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淎nyone who cannot abide by or agree with that rule should now leave the courtroom.91裸聊视频�

The three men were comforted by about three dozen people outside the court.

Van Huigenbos and Janzen embraced.

91裸聊视频淟et91裸聊视频檚 hope they put us in the same spot,91裸聊视频� Van Huigenbos said.

Van Herk said he was initially optimistic due to the short time the jury deliberated.

91裸聊视频淚t was quite shocking right? And it91裸聊视频檚 like wow. You get that pit in your stomach but you know what, I have no answer to that. The jury decided and I91裸聊视频檒l accept it,91裸聊视频� Van Herk said.

Van Herk said he91裸聊视频檚 proud of participating in Coutts and holding politicians accountable.

91裸聊视频淚f that91裸聊视频檚 what it takes, that we can show politicians what is right, and we91裸聊视频檒l do whatever sentence that is. I91裸聊视频檇 do it again tomorrow.91裸聊视频�

The maximum sentence for public mischief over $5000 is 10 years in prison.

Van Huigenbos said he wasn91裸聊视频檛 surprised at the jury91裸聊视频檚 verdict.

91裸聊视频淗onestly there91裸聊视频檚 no surprise here for me. Based on the charge, based on the interpretation of the law. We91裸聊视频檙e guilty,91裸聊视频� he told reporters.

91裸聊视频淚t was much more than just 18 days on a highway in the middle of nowhere. We shook and threatened the pinnacle of power in this province. Coutts was the flame that the grassroots rallied around and turned into a fire.91裸聊视频�

Neither Van Huigenbos nor Van Herk intend to appeal their convictions.

Jail time is a concern for Van Huigenbos.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 human. I worry more about how it will affect my kids, my wife. It91裸聊视频檒l affect me less. They91裸聊视频檙e the ones that will have to deal with this.91裸聊视频�

A pre-sentence report has been ordered for all three men. The case is scheduled to appear again July 22 before a sentencing hearing can be scheduled.

Earlier Tuesday, in closing arguments to the jury, Crown prosecutor Steven Johnston said jurors only needed to find the three were active participants in the blockade to return a guilty verdict.

91裸聊视频淭he right to protest does not let you lay siege to property for two weeks. It was not their highway to close,91裸聊视频� Johnston told the jury.

91裸聊视频淥ne act, one statement of encouragement can be enough to convict.

91裸聊视频淭he Crown does not have to prove these men were the leaders.91裸聊视频�

The Crown said the evidence showed the accused were key players and became faces of the blockade and the three spoke on behalf of protesters.

91裸聊视频淭hey are not some mere messengers. They use the words, 91裸聊视频榃e, our and us91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�, Johnston said.

Defence lawyers didn91裸聊视频檛 call evidence during the trial, and the accused did not testify.

However, in cross-examining witnesses, the defence argued the trio was not guilty because the demonstration involved numerous strong-willed protesters who didn91裸聊视频檛 always publicly agree and sometimes went their separate ways.

In his closing argument, defence lawyer Ryan Durran told jurors his client, Van Huigenbos, was not a leader but was turned into a messenger by the RCMP.

91裸聊视频淢arco becomes like a switchboard operator connecting calls,91裸聊视频� said Durran.

91裸聊视频淢arco was there to convey a message. He stumbled into a role where he was a spokesman. Marco gave the RCMP the news of the day.91裸聊视频�

Lawyer Michael Johnston, representing Van Herk, said his client tried unsuccessfully on two occasions to convince the protesters to leave and was concerned about breaking federal laws.

91裸聊视频淣ot everyone at the protest is guilty of a crime,91裸聊视频� Johnston said.

91裸聊视频�(Van Herk) wasn91裸聊视频檛 anyone of influence in anybody91裸聊视频檚 mind.91裸聊视频�

Janzen91裸聊视频檚 lawyer, Alan Honner, said his client was always willing to help other protesters sort out their problems as well as work with the RCMP.

91裸聊视频淭his is the real George Janzen. He helps because that is who he is,91裸聊视频� said Honner.

During the trial officers testified that as the protest dragged on, leadership coalesced around the three accused, and RCMP increasingly turned to them to negotiate.