“HUNG JURY” for Saddleback student, anti-Minuteman protester

As you know, Saddleback College student Kurt Isobe has been on trial here in Orange County. During an anti-Minuteman protest a year ago, he allegedly threw objects at police.

Local activist Duane J. Roberts has sat through the entire trial.

Here’s Duane’s report from today:

“HUNG JURY” FOR ANTI-MINUTEMAN PROTESTER

An Orange County jury deadlocks on three charges; issues “not guilty” verdict for two others.

By DUANE J. ROBERTS

SANTA ANA, CA—A mixed race, predominantly female jury deadlocked 10-2 and 9-3 in favor of an anti-Minuteman protester who was violently arrested by Garden Grove police on the night of Wednesday, May 25, 2005.

Kurt Isobe, 19, of Laguna Niguel, was one of three hundred people who attended a protest against Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist, who was speaking at a meeting of the California Coalition for Immigration Reform in Garden Grove.

During three days of testimony, two police officers accused Isobe of throwing two objects at police during the demonstration. They claimed they saw him throw a “golf ball sized” object and a “red soda can” toward a police skirmish line.

But a crime lab technician testified that no fingerprints could be found on any cans. And numerous witnesses, including some who accompanied Isobe to the demonstration, stated that they didn’t witness him throw any objects at the police.

The jury "hung" on three charges of felony assault against a police officer and obstructing an officer in the performance of his duties. They found him “not guilty” of lesser charges of assaulting a horse and wearing a mask in the commission of a crime.

A hearing will be scheduled later next month to determine if the Orange County District Attorney’s Office will retry the case against Isobe. Attorney David Haas, Isobe’s counsel, was unavailable for comment at the time this report was written.

[We’d like to thank Duane for his permission in using his piece.]