DENVER, COLORADO- Activists distributing jury nullification literature in front of the Lindsey Flanigan Courthouse were once again arrested this morning. Sheriffs deputies arrested Mark Iannicelli and Eric Brandt, the pair originally charged last year with jury tampering, based this time on an accusation of harassing people entering the courthouse. Brandt was detained and eventually let go, but Iannicelli was taken into custody after a complainant fingered him for harassment. Once Iannicelli’s lawyer was reached, a timely call to the office of the city attorney freed Iannicelli within the hour.
Mark Iannicelli emerged from the Van Cise Simonet Dentention Facility just before noon with a citation charging him with Disturbing the Peace and “Violation of Court Orders” whatever they think that means. The court order, a federal injunction to be precise, orders the city and county of Denver NOT TO ARREST Iannicelli, Brandt, or anyone, for distributing JN literature in the Lindsey Flanigan plaza.
Last August, Iannicelli and Brandt were charged with seven counts of jury tampering for exactly this activity. In January the charges were dismissed but DA Mitch Morrissey is appealing. Meanwhile the federal injunction will be proceding to trial next month.
Iannicelli and fellow activists with Occupy Denver have been handing out JN fliers every weekday since his arrest last year. The stint begins before 7:30am, while the public is kept waiting at the locked courthouse doors. Then defendents, jurors, lawyers and whatnot arrive in waves until 9:30am. Between those times, activists stand near the front doors quietly passing out fliers and engaging in conversation with whoever inquires.
Mark is the friendliest of all the “lonely pamphleteers” and his being accused of being anything other than friendly will be easily disproved by the security cameras and security personel keeping a close watch on the disputed activity outside.
Mark’s arrest is the twentieth since OD’s jury nullification campaign began, not counting two citations for having an OD leader caught off leash.
Even as Denver loses in court battles the city doubles down. It’s a bitch for civil liberties but the ultimate outcome will be all the more funny.
I was wondering where Mark I was when I showed up to do court support at LFC this past week. Now I know.
So does this mean we need a stepped-up presence with Fully Informed Jury brochures for the jackasses to get the message that they may not violate the right peaceably to assemble and petition our government for a redress of grievances?
Overheard at LFC recently:
Defendant to court clerk: So my name’s not on the board outside and I’m wondering why. I have a court date today.
Court clerk: What’s your name?
Defendant: Provides name.
Court clerk: The charges were dismissed.
Passerby to defendant: High five for your dismissal!!! Defendant cautiously offers fist pump to passerby’s happy high five for his dismissal.
Defendant to court clerk: Well why wasn’t I informed of this from prosecution?!?!
Court clerk: blah blah blah
Passerby to defendant: Because they’re abusive.
Court clerk to defendant: Do you want the case reopened?
Defendant to court clerk: Yes I think I do because there are some things I want to come out about this.
Court clerk to defendant: Contact the prosecution blah blah blah.
Passerby to Defendant as he leaves: Do me a favor and file a complaint with the Office of the Independent Monitor. You can get free forms just down the street at the Wellington Webb Building.
Defendant nods and leaves quite disgusted.
LEST WE THINK MARK I’s arrest is not related to the success of everyone’s efforts we would be mistaken. I read in another post somewhere this same sentiment stated a bit differently. Stand tall everyone. The bastards will eventually get the message as evidenced by the interaction above. The citizens at-large are quite weary of the bullshit being overseen by Morrissey et. al.
Can anyone run a query for how many plea bargains, how many dismissals and how many jury trials since July 1, 2015 and the year prior for Denver DA and LFC and the old courthouse? It will no doubt tell a very interesting tale about how citizen engagement can and does rectify government abuse. And isn’t it interesting how those who get the abuse stopped are often homeless and on disability benefits.
Hugs and kisses to all the ABUSIVE, TERRORIST fucking pigs in Denver, Colorado. And when I say abusive and terrorist I mean abusive and terrorist. They are the American version of ISIL using “under color of authority.” You know who you are but I can start posting your names and your abuse online if you like.
Sincerely yours,
Amanda
Here’s a fun tidbit: Color of law refers to an appearance of legal power to act but which may operate in violation of law. For example, though a police officer acts with the “color of law” authority to arrest someone, if such an arrest is made without probable cause the arrest may actually be in violation of law. In other words, just because something is done with the “color of law” does not mean that the action was lawful. When police act outside their lawful authority and violate the civil rights of a citizen, the FBI is tasked with investigating.[3]
So let me get this straight the abusers of civil rights are tasked with investigating the abusers of civil rights all under “color of law?”
And Mark so sorry I wasn’t out there with you. It likely wouldn’t have stopped the arrest but you never know.
Colorado Springs sent me an invitation to Jury Duty while I was down in Ft Worth on bail .
Which in turn had called two of my brothers for jury duty (Tarrant Co Texas) on a few occasions. The prosecution dismissed them rapidly when they answered truthfully that some of their family members had been in jail. The older of the two was at the time far to the right of Reagan and would probably have voted guilty.
But the DA just wasn’t fixin to take a chance of somebody who wasn’t predisposed to convict. I’d say that was jury tampering on the part of the DA and other pigs, but some really slow to think/quick to anger type persons would tell me I’m stupid and make meaningless threats which would frighten me so I won’t say it.
Moral of the Story: yeah, the system is rigged. Not a Man Bites Dog –Stop the Presses! type of headline.
However, if you really don’t want jury duty just tell them you know or have heard of people being wrongfully convicted.
When it comes to civil liberties Occupy Denver is for life liberty freedom and for one to exercise their first amendment rights whereas Morrisey and the Denver pigs are for bondage arrest jail and prison to contribute to American government sponsored slavery by filling Colorado’s 33 prisons.
Know your enemy is police terrorism in America.
No victim,no crime vote not guilty and support Occupy Denver!
Yours Sincerely,
Mark Iannicelli