A law protecting Alabama artifacts passed its first test, according to Dallas County’s District Attorney.

District Attorney Michael Jackson said that Perry Massey pleaded guilty to one count of criminal trespassing in a case involving pre-Civil War artifacts found in the Alabama River.

Massey was originally charged with theft or disturbance of a cultural resource. He and Steve Phillips, a co-defendant in the trial, were arrested on Oct. 20, 2003.

Both men were caught diving in the river with several artifacts, including a rifle.

Massie and Phillips maintained they were scouting locations for a TV show and had done nothing wrong.

Massie, the head of Outdoor Channel Holdings, which owns the Outdoor Channel, has agreed to testify against Phillips, Jackson said.

Massie is from Los Angeles, Calif. Phillips is a Birmingham dive-shop owner.

According to Jackson, the two are the first defendants charged with the 1999 law.

“Dallas County is the first place this statute has been tested,” he said.

Massie, his attorney said, had to report on the case in the company’s financial statements.

Massie said he wanted to be done with it.

Phillips, however, swore to fight the suit and the original law.

“One way or another, we are going to get rid of the law,” he said.

According to an Associated Press report, Phillips is trying to get the state Legislature to change the law.

Jackson said he was prepared and felt the law and the trial was part of the county’s commitment to protecting the area’s historical heritage.

“The District Attorney’s office will do all that it can to protect our treasures,” Jackson said.

Jackson said he’s gotten a lot of support from the community on the case.

“I’ve met with several members of the Historic Commission in this county that have called me about these two guys cases,” he said. “They were very pleased that something was actually being done.”