Overview
- Federal prosecutors on Saturday filed a proposed order to dismiss without prejudice the original felony conspiracy-to-impede charge against David Huerta.
- On Friday, Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli filed a reduced misdemeanor count alleging obstruction, resistance or opposition to a federal officer, carrying up to a year in prison.
- Huerta’s attorneys said they will seek a speedy trial to challenge the remaining charge and argued the case is retaliatory.
- The case stems from a June 6 ICE/HSI raid in Los Angeles, where an agent’s affidavit says Huerta blocked a vehicular gate and pushed back when moved, while unions say he was documenting the raid, was thrown to the ground and pepper-sprayed, and was injured.
- Huerta was released in June on a $50,000 bond, and his arrest has drawn support from labor leaders and Democratic officials as more than 60 protesters face federal cases tied to immigration enforcement actions in the Central District of California.