Three protesters arrested during the March 2 occupation of Wheeler Hall were found guilty Tuesday of misdemeanor trespassing and misdemeanor resisting arrest charges.
Jason Ozolins, Michael Veremans and Elizabeth Bamaca, none of whom is a UC Berkeley student, were arrested during the March 2 protest when they and 14 other protesters refused to leave Wheeler Hall after its closing time. The three were charged with misdemeanor resisting arrest and misdemeanor trespassing charges. They could face up to one year in jail for the resisting arrest charge and up to six months in jail for the trespassing charge.
The full jury trial for the protesters represents a shift from consequences faced by protesters in previous UC Berkeley demonstrations, where punishment was typically referred to the Center for Student Conduct. The other March protesters resolved their charges in a bench trial and plea bargains.
According to Veremans, 25, he and his fellow defendants were told numerous times to plead guilty in exchange for a lesser sentence.
“They were trying to get us to admit guilt by offering us some lower charge,” he said. “When someone says, ‘I want to go to court’ … that should be respected.”
During the trial, which began last week, the defense and prosecution questioned UCPD Officer Michael Miceli, who was present at the protest. Miceli said he had to exert “minor effort” when arresting Veremans, adding that Veremans “went limp” during the arrest. In California, going limp constitutes resisting arrest.
Friday, one juror was dismissed because she overheard a conversation between Ozolins and one of his supporters Thursday. After court had adjourned Thursday afternoon, the juror took the same elevator as Ozolins and heard him say something that could create prejudice against him, according to Judge Armando Cuellar.
Before the other jurors were brought into the courtroom Friday, she gave a statement to the court confirming what she heard, and she was dismissed shortly after. Cuellar ordered that the other jurors not speculate as to why the juror was dismissed, and he placed a gag order on the defendants to keep them from discussing the case anywhere jurors could hear.
Veremans said he hopes that “because of the nonviolent nature of the crime and the First Amendment implications … as well as our status as students, that we will receive a relatively light sentencing.”
The three protesters are scheduled to receive sentences on Nov. 3.
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They spoke up for what they believed in. It was a non violent protest and all he did was go limp? I’m glad somebody is standing up and not giving up easy. More power to them. I support them 100%. Our court and school systems are corrupt anyway.
Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
John 8:7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All
right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”
Not very proud of our California courts or schools
send them to guantanamo
Do the crime and you do the time.
Everybody who commits crimes, no matter how minor, in the name of free speech needs to remember the free speech isn’t free (that’s the point). “Freedoms” come with a price. Personal accountability and consequences for one’s deliberate actions are among them.
These people have been convicted of crimes by the justice system in our society (You don’t like our society’s choices? Go elsewhere, and quickly please), and though they will probably get off with community service, their convictions are now in the public record and will follow them forever. That too is the price of free speech.
And being washed over and forgotten by the sands of time is the price of your inaction.
Defendant Veremans said he is a student. The reporter states he is not a U.C. student. Just curious, where IS he a student?
it’s fascinating that non-students are arrested for protesting, I guess all the “real” students are busy with their studies! Off to jail hsould be an eye opener!
3 outside agitators convicted – send ‘em to jail.
If going limp is worthy of going to jail, you’d better hope your girlfriend never talks to the cops.
Really, that’s the best you can do in a discussion? Personal comments about somebody you’ve probably never even met?
The least you can do us come up with an on-topic quip.
“Chris” doesn’t know that Tony trolls the DailyCal comments everyday?
Well now you know, and you know why I’ll continue to deride him, whether it’s relevant to the topic or not.
Kinda hard to believe that ANYONE would *willingly* allow Tony M to (attempt to) insert himself inside them, isn’t it? Female, male, sheep, or whatever, I suspect that outside of forcible rape Tony M isn’t getting much action.
“If going limp is worthy of going to jail”
Don’t play dumb. Resisting arrest just compounds an offense that justified arrest.
Outside of what? The school, the community, the city, the state where they pay taxes?