update on political prisoner in southern california!

by S Saturday, May. 04, 2002 at 12:23 PM

read about the newest happenings with Matthew Lamont and Jeff Hendricks

Matthew Lamont has been moved to the maximun security section of the Orange County Jail in Orange, CA after guards associated him with black-bloc Mayday demonstrators outside of the jail. Police thought the demonstrators might "blow something up" for Lamont...
Jeff Hendricks appeared in Court in Fullerton on May 2nd to get an extention on his trial dates. The courtroom had extra security, including 6 or more Orange County Sheriffs in the Courtroom that Jeff appeared in. They searched everyone's possessions on the way in and used metal detection wands on evvery person enetering the room as well. The heightened security was explained to Jeff by a Public Defender as being "all for him." Jeff is being charged with Contempt of Court and Unlawful Communication with a Prisoner, both misdemeanors, in Orange County. He is out on bail right now, working on a legal strategy. Neither Matthew Lamont or Jeff Hendricks plan to use Public Defenders.
A quick update on Maxwell Lucas, the juvenile who was driving the car that Matthew Lamont was pulled over in: Max is being tried as a juvenile in OC's juvenile court. His charges are Possesion of an Explosive Device and Use/Intent to use an Explosive Device, both felonies. He has an attorney and is awaiting trial.
An important thing to note as well, with Jeff Hendrick's case: On May 2 after apearing in Court Jeff and a friend went to his car in the parking lot. Upon reaching the car he noticed that his front and back license plates had been switched so that the proper month/year stickers were in the front instead of the back [where they are supposed to be by law]. There was a ticket on the windsheild citing the violation and a Fullerton Police Dept patrol car right nearby. Jeff and friend approached the Officers in the car and asked what needed to be done to correct the "violation" so that they could leave the parking lot. The officers replied and said to switch the plates and pay the ticket. Jeff and friend proceeded back to his car and Jeff began switching the plates back. The FPD officers then approached by car and got out, asking if Jeff and friend were "tampering with a vehicle"...The officers took Jeffs ID and made sure the car was his and unlawfully took his friends ID and wrote down both of their information on Police Feild Cards [the kind for crimework]...The officers then parked nearby and watched as Jeff and friend drove away. This unlawful harrassment and similar cases have been happening to almost all Long Beach anarchists and activists. Phones are tapped, cars are followed and broken into, documents are stolen, detectives are parked nearby the infoshop and peoples' residences, federal officers take pictures, etc etc etc. Please show your support by calling the Long Beach Infoshop and asking what you can do to help! 562-434-6934... They could lock you up next!
We are living in a police state.
We will win.