City Drops Charges Against 9 Occupy Sacramento Protesters

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — The city of Sacramento on Monday dropped all charges against nine Occupy Sacramento protesters who were scheduled to start their trials on Tuesday.

According to Occupy Sacramento organizers, City Attorney Gary Lindsay only turned over two of 44 items in discovery, and when questioned about it by Judge Earned W. Sawtelle, Lindsay conferred with his staff and then announced the city would drop the charges "in the interest of justice."

"We now ask the city of Sacramento to save the taxpayers of Sacramento the cost of arresting and prosecuting other people simply expressing their free speech rights," Occupy legal coordinator Cres Velluci said in press release. "Now is the time to sit down and work out an agreement that allows all Sacramentans their First Amendment rights."

The city released a statement saying that the defendants time already spent in jail and fines imposed were sufficient.

"After evaluating the facts of each case and criminal history of each defendant, the City Attorney's Office has determined that the combined sanctions of arrest, jail time, and monetary fines imposed against each defendant achieved the People of the State of California's demand for substantial justice," the statement said. " The City Attorney's Office will continue to prosecute defendants charged with violations of Sacramento City Code section 12.72.090 that occur at Cesar Chavez Park."

Occupy organizers say there have been 111 arrests at Cesar Chavez Park for curfew violations. Thirty-five people had their charges dismissed earlier. After Monday's decision, seven people may still face trial in January. Another 24 people were arrested last week.

The city had earlier dropped the cases against the 30-plus Occupy protesters who had only one arrest. Tuesday's now-canceled trial had been for those with multiple arrests.