From the LVRJ: Four people could face up to a year in jail for chalking up city sidewalks while protesting police misconduct.
Kelly Wayne Patterson, 44, Brian Ballentine, 31, Hailee Jewell, 18, and Catalino de la Cruz Dazo Jr., 20, face multiple gross misdemeanor counts of placing graffiti or defacing property and conspiracy to commit placing graffiti.
If convicted, they could face probation, a suspended driver’s license, community service and up to a year in the Clark County Detention Center.
The four protesters, affiliated with Nevada Cop Block and Sunset Activist Collective, used washable colored chalk in July to write critical statements of police on the sidewalks outside the Metropolitan Police Department’s headquarters and in front of the Regional Justice Center.
Demonstrating against police brutality and officer-involved shootings in Las Vegas, the protesters say they were practicing free speech and should not face charges.
District Attorney Steve Wolfson is taking the case seriously.
“This is not a kid drawing with a piece of chalk on the sidewalk. These are adults who used chalk to draw profanity,” he said. “And there is a law on the books that make it a crime to engage in this activity.”
One statement read: “Not one single cop in Metro’s entire history has been charged after shooting someone. Even if that person was unarmed and/or innocent.”
Another was: “(Expletive) the police.” http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/crime-courts/sidewalk-chalk-could-land-four-protestors-jail-year
While these morons probably shouldn't be sent to jail, they do deserve to be charged.
First, if they used picket signs, they would not have gotten in trouble.
The fact they used profanity so everyone to see, including little kids is greatly offensive and it is against the law.
It is graffiti and the only way the chalk can be removed is if it rains, which rarely happens in Las Vegas, or it is cleaned up, in this case by City crews, since it happened on City property.
These idiots claim they have a first amendment right to spew profanities. No they don't. You can't go up to a 5 year old and start swearing at them and then claim you have a 1st amendment right. That's what these fools are doing but instead of yelling it, they are writing it.
So, let's run this through the courts and let's see what happens.
At the Prairie Café...
3 hours ago
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