Hello everybody:
It's official! The Orange County District Attorney's
Office has declined to file any criminal charges
against Coyotl Tezcatlipoca! This is a major victory
for free speech!
Look for messages that will be posted on
la.indymedia.org soon containing information
about a new development that has occurred
regarding the Costa Mesa Mayor!
Sincerely,
Duane J. Roberts
duaneroberts92804@yahoo.com http://www.dailypilot.com/front/story/37212p-55065c.html Friday, February 3, 2006
D.A. won't charge protester
By Alicia Robinson, Daily Pilot
The Orange County district attorney will not file
charges against Coyotl Tezcatlipoca, the protester who
was arrested at a Costa Mesa City Council meeting in
January.
Tezcatlipoca, who police identified as Benito Acosta,
was scheduled to appear in court today.
Tezcatlipoca, 24, of Costa Mesa, was arrested after
being ordered to stop speaking at the podium during
the Jan. 3 council meeting.
He was at the meeting protesting the council's
adoption of a plan to train police to enforce
immigration laws.
Police submitted three charges: resisting arrest,
battery of a police officer and disrupting a City
Council meeting, Deputy Dist. Atty. Susan Schroeder
said Thursday. The District Attorney is not filing the
first two charges, and the third is a municipal code
violation that will be referred back to the city.
Asked why no charges are being filed, Schroeder said,
"We refused it [the charges] in the interests of
justice," but she would not elaborate.
The city has not yet received the municipal code
violation from the district attorney's office, Costa
Mesa City Atty. Kimberly Hall Barlow said. Once that
happens, it would be given to the city prosecutor, who
is another attorney at Barlow's firm who works
independently of her.
The city prosecutor will evaluate the charge and
determine whether to pursue it, Barlow said. If the
city proceeds, a court date would be scheduled later.
Reached Thursday afternoon, Tezcatlipoca said he
wasn't sure how to feel.
"I'm happy, of course -- I don't have to go through
that drama," he said.
He added that he still thinks he was treated unfairly
by city officials. His supporters allege his 1st
Amendment rights were violated when he was cut off
while speaking and then taken outside the meeting and
arrested.
Mayor Allan Mansoor has defended his handling of the
situation. He has said he cut Tezcatlipoca off because
he wasn't following council rules, and Mansoor was
concerned violence might erupt at the meeting.
* ALICIA ROBINSON covers government and politics. She
may be reached at (714) 966-4626 or
alicia.robinson@latimes.com.