Wes Modes in court

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Date:

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Time:

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM

Event Type:

Court Date

Organizer/Author:

Location Details:

Dept 2. in County Courthouse
Ocean and Water, Santa Cruz

Wes Modes in court tomorrow (Tuesday 11/30) at 8:30am in Dept 2.

This is the scheduled court appearance one year after the Farmer's
Market incident plea deal. Remember this? Last year, after 15 months
in court, I accepted a suspended sentence as part of a plea deal. This
was the Farmer's Market incident in which the police jumped and clubbed
me while I was drumming at a protest, sending me to the hospital, then
charged me with battering police officers.

As part of the plea deal, I offered to do 250 hours of community service
(I did more than 500 hours) and go back to court in a year so they could
sentence me for the second lesser offense (resisting arrest). This is
that one year check-in.

This is draining and stressful of course, but then that is what they do
with folks who engage in struggles for freedom, particularly if it pits
you against the powerful forces of police, money, and government.
I'd be honored if you came to show your support and your resistance
against the kind of petty bullying the police and courts in this small
town engage in.

W.

For more information: http://groups.google.com/group/santa-cruz-...

Added to the calendar on Mon, Nov 29, 2010 1:09PM

§The Result

by There

Tue, Nov 30, 2010 10:30AM

In court, the DA tried to argue that I should be restricted from any unpermitted gatherings, public space conflicts, etc. The court settled for the usual probation terms of "obey all laws."

This is draining and stressful of course, but then that is what they do with folks who engage in struggles for freedom, particularly if it pits you against the powerful forces of police, money, and government. Thanks to those who came to show their support and their resistance against the kind of petty bullying the police and courts in this small town engage in.

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§What I Heard

by Robert Norse

Tue, Nov 30, 2010 9:33PM

I was surprised that probation was given for another six months. I thought this hearing was supposed to conclude everything.

Maybe D.A. Dave Shermer is simply maintaining a pious and self-righteous pose. I found it hard to keep from growling when I cracked at him "don't get caught walking in any parades" (to which he sanctimoniously replied, "just parades without a permit!").

The prosecutor also indicated that he would view any violations of municipal codes (such as knowingly walking in a parade without a permit) a basis for coming back to court for a probation violation. That was what I heard anyway. So if Wes stumbles in the tripwire of Downtown Ordinances and gets charged, is it back to court with a threat of jail for the "obstructing an officer" charge that he pleaded guilty to?

I hope this doesn't quell his activism further. The community has missed him on the front lines for the last two years.

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