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.