For the second time, eleven individuals accused of vandalizing Stanford College’s govt places of work throughout a June protest have been arraigned Monday in San Jose after a Santa Clara County grand jury indicted them on felony vandalism and conspiracy fees.
Decide Elizabeth Peterson set a trial date for Nov. 17. As a result of prosecutors secured an indictment, the defendants will skip a preliminary listening to — a public court docket continuing usually used to find out whether or not there may be sufficient proof to maneuver ahead to trial.
The indictment returned final week fees every defendant with one felony rely of conspiracy to trespass and vandalism within the June 5, 2024 protest, when demonstrators barricaded themselves inside Stanford’s govt constructing to demand the college divest from firms tied to Israel’s navy actions in Gaza.
Twelve individuals have been initially charged, and first arraigned in a Palo Alto Court docket final Could, however one has since accepted a plea deal. Most are present or former Stanford college students and alumni. Prosecutors say the group prompted between $360,000 and $1 million in injury throughout the takeover — a determine pupil activists have described as “an exaggeration.”
On Monday, Protection legal professional Emily Rose Johns criticized District Legal professional Jeff Rosen’s resolution to pursue a felony grand jury, describing it as an try and keep away from public scrutiny.
“We were not intending to be arraigned on an indictment last week when we went into court,” Johns mentioned. “We were expecting to have a public preliminary hearing that could be attended by members of the press, supporters, and others interested in the case that Stanford and the district attorney have against these activists.”
She mentioned prosecutors “went through this secret process to avoid public accountability.”
One other protection legal professional, Jeff Wozniak, echoed that criticism.
“Grand juries are secret proceedings where no defendants or defense attorneys can defend themselves,” Wozniak mentioned. “Using one for a protest case avoids public transparency.”
Eight defendants entered not-guilty pleas and appeared both in individual or just about: Maya Burke, 29; German Gonzalez, 21; Gretchen Guimarin, 24; Taylor McCann, 33; Cameron Pennington, 24; Hunter Taylor-Black, 25; Isabella Terrazas, 24; and Kaiden Wang, 23.
Three others, Amy Zhai, 22, Zoe Edelman, 22, and Eliana Fuchs, 26 ,deferred their pleas till subsequent week, when they’re anticipated to look in individual.
Final month, John Richardson, 21, pleaded no contest underneath a deferred entry of judgment settlement accessible to younger defendants. If he completes probation with out additional authorized hassle, the case may very well be dismissed. The indictment reveals Richardson was amongst three witnesses who testified earlier than the grand jury.
In earlier remarks, Rosen mentioned the activists’ actions crossed a line once they broke into and broken the workplace.
“Speech is protected by the First Amendment. Vandalism is prosecuted under the penal code,” Rosen mentioned.
It is a creating story. Verify again for updates.
