Jury agrees doggie doo can be free speech

GREELEY, Colo., May 24 (UPI) -- A jury in Colorado says a Democratic activist committed no crime when she left a campaign flyer filled with dog poop at a Republican candidate's office.

Kathleen Ensz faced a misdemeanor charge of criminal use of a noxious substance. Jurors found her not guilty Wednesday after two hours of deliberation, The Rocky Mountain News reported.

Ensz did not deny that she dropped off her gift at the office of U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave in Greeley. But her lawyers argued that she was engaged in a bit of free speech, demonstrating in no uncertain terms what she thought of Musgrave's policies during last year's campaign.

"Her only intention of going over there was to make a political statement that Marilyn Musgrave's politics stink," lawyer Shannon Lyons said after learning that he had convinced the jury.

Ensz resigned from an unpaid party post last fall. The campaign of state Rep. Angie Paccione, who ran against Musgrave, denied any knowledge of Ensz's act.