[Peace-discuss] CORRECTION on Action for Safe Haven Advocate: call Atty Stavins at Champaign not Reitz

[Danielle Chynoweth]

It has come to my attention that Safe Haven advocate Jesse Masengale has
been charged with a *city offense, not a state charge*.  That means Fred
Stavins, Champaign City attorney has the discretion to charge or not.

*Please contact Fred Stavins to ask his justification for moving forward
with case case # 09OV000914 against Jesse Masengale **at:*
Phone: 217/403-8765
Fax: 217/403-8755
legaldepartment at ci.champaign.il.us

*We will still courtwatch*: this Tuesday at 9 am Courtroom F during Jesse's
first hearing.

Jesse faces fines up to ~$1000 and does not have the right to an appointed
attorney.  If he pleas innocent, he is entitled to a bench or jury trial.

Please urge the city to drop these bogus charges, where officers are calling
the tossing of a cell phone "assault" and resisting a search without a
warrant "obstruction of justice."

This is an opportunity for us to make it clear that police harassment will
not be tolerated.

You can look up his case at: http://www.cccircuitclerk.com/ case #
09OV000914.

I apologize for not doing due diligence on this case earlier.

- Danielle




On Sun, Jul 26, 2009 at 6:58 PM, Danielle Chynoweth <chyn at ojctech.com>wrote:

> <please forward>
>
> Jesse Masengale, Save Haven resident and homeless advocate, was arrested on
> June 11th for allegedly obstructing justice and assault.  The obstruction of
> justice charge came from putting his hand up to block the videoing of the
> Safe Haven tent community by police as the Catholic Worker House staff
> explained that police did not have consent to search.  The assault charge
> came from tossing his cell phone to a friend to take pictures as he was
> being arrested for obstruction.  The officer claims that he could have been
> hit by the cell phone.
>
> Read the story here:
> http://www.ucimc.org/content/cu-tent-community#comment-6552
>
> The State's Attorney has duty to review cases and only press forward with
> legitimate cases, which this is not.
>
> *Call or email Julia Reitz *
> Monday, July 26th to ask her justification for moving forward with Jesse's
> charges and to press her to drop the charges.
> (217) 384-3816
> statesatty at co.champaign.il.us
>
> *Come Courtwatch *
> Tuesday at 9 am Courtroom F during Jesse's first hearing.
> County courthouse on mainstreet in downtown Urbana
> Do not bring cell phones, knives, halter tops or you will not be allowed
> in.
>
> Please report any calls you make or whether you can come courtwatch to
> discuss at communitycourtwatch.org (which is limited to CUCPJ members and not
> archived publicly).
>
> thanks!
> Danielle
>
>
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