VERNON A municipal court judge found Bear Education and Resource Group Director Lynda Smith, 42, of West Milford, and five animal rights activists arrested during a bear hunt protest guilty of a minor disorderly persons offense. Their lawyer promised an appeal. Municipal Court Judge C. William Bowkley Jr. heard testimony in the case in February, but reserved a decision until after hearing closing arguments last Tuesday. The six were arrested Dec. 10 at Wawayanda State Park after straying outside the bounds of a predetermined area set by authorities for the protest, which came on the last day of the hunt. Also found guity were William Crain, 62; Eleanor Hoffman, 47; Catherine McCartney, 38; Kristen Sondej, 38, and David Stewart, 67. Smith lives in West Milford; the others are from Bergen County, Morris County and New York City. The judge rejected arguments that the police who arrested them violated their free speech rights. He fined each $350 plus $150 in costs. The hunt, New Jersey’s second in the last 35 years, netted 297 bears. State officials said it was necessary because of increasing incidents of bear-human interactions. Opponents called it unnecessary and cruel.