HOUSTON – A total of 22 people from 13 states plus the
District of Columbia will soon have to appear before a federal judge to answer
charges following their alleged protest at the Fred Hartman Bridge in Houston,
announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
The criminal information, filed today, charges each with one
count of aiding and abetting obstruction of navigable waters. They are
currently in state custody on related charges but are expected to make their
initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Palermo at 12:00 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 14.
“I commend the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) for
their professionalism,” said Patrick. “This was a unique situation that
required hours of preparation and execution to bring to a close. Rather than
peacefully protesting, these defendants are charged with a crime that put lives
at risk.”
The charges allege each aided and abetted each other and
others known and unknown to unlawfully obstruct the navigable capacity of the
waters of the United States. Specifically, the information alleges they
obstructed the waterway by rappelling off and suspending themselves from the
Fred Hartman Bridge over the San Jacinto River. Their actions caused a
disruption and affected vessel traffic within the Houston Ship Channel - to and
from the Port of Houston, according to the allegations.
Those charged in federal court include California residents
Zeph Fishlyn, 52, Tamura R. Seiji, 29, and Richard A. Sisney, 32, all of
Oakland, and Cole Asher Taylor-Martin, 35, of Fullerton; Missouri residents
Jayden Allen, 20, of Warrensburg, and
Dakota P. Schee, 25, of Kansas City; Jonathan Butler, 29, and Tracye Redd, 28,
both of Washington, DC; Washington State residents Ryan Harris, 41, of Olympia,
and Piper Werle, 29, of Port Orchard; New York women Brianna Gibson, 28, of
Brooklyn, and Kim Irene, 26, of Jerico; Colorado residents Julie A. McElvain,
36, of Steamboat Springs, and Cheloee Price, 23, of Denver; as well as Christan
Bufforu, 32, of Ellerwood, Georgia; Sydney Clifford, 21, of Portland, Oregon;
Heather Doyle, 35, of Albequrque, New Mexico; Michael Herbert, 36, Hyattsville,
Maryland; Tyler N. McFarland, 27, of Dover, New Hampshire; Sarah Newman, 42, of
Lexington, Kentucky; Heidi Nybroten, 26, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Shevone
Torres, 39, of Pennsauken, New Jersey.
If convicted of the misdemeanor charges, each faces up to a
year in federal prison and a possible $2,500 fine.
HCSO led the investigation and arrests with the
participation and assistance of Harris County Precinct 8 Constables’ Office,
U.S. Coast Guard, Houston Police Department, FBI, Texas Department of
Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration and fire departments in Houston
and Baytown. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark McIntyre is prosecuting the case.
An information is a formal accusation of criminal conduct,
not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through
due process of law.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment