Posted on 12/24/2008 6:34:22 AM PST by curth
By Paul Shockley pshockley@gjfreepress.com Grand Junction, CO, Colorado
While alive and featured prominently on the Internet, an incident involving former vice president candidate Sarah Palin’s motorcade in Grand Junction has run its course in the local legal system.
Five people charged among a group of nine who briefly blocked Palin’s motorcade on Oct. 20 accepted plea agreements Monday.
Mallory Rice, 20, Jacob Richards, 27, Jay Sandstedt, 22, Donald Flynn, 20, and Margret Aneloski, 19, one by one pleaded guilty Monday morning to charges of obstructing government operations, a class 3 misdemeanor.
The District Attorney’s office dismissed misdemeanor charges of obstructing a highway or passageway.
All five received fines ranging between $280 and $307 and were ordered to complete 24 hours of useful public service within the next three months.
“We’ve taken responsibility, but we’re not remorseful,” Rice said after Monday’s pleas.
Palin’s motorcade slowed and swerved Oct. 20 approaching 12th Street and North Avenue when protesters marching behind a bed sheet with a hand-written slogan “Democracy Direct” darted out from the northeast corner of the intersection.
Four Grand Junction police officers — including two on motorcycles who were part of Palin’s motorcade — shoved the group out of the way. The scrape saw at least one officer wrestling on the ground, feet away from the passing motorcade.
Excessive force complaints filed by the group were cleared, and the officers exonerated by GJPD administration Oct. 22.
“It could have been a lot worse,” Sandstedt said, carefully choosing words. “I wish it could have happened in a way in which the officers weren’t in as much risk.”
Sandstedt said he believes they succeeded in “getting out” their message.
“Her ideology, the way she was campaigning, wasn’t welcome in our town … at least not by everybody.”
The incident made headlines on CNN while several videos also turned up on the Web site, You Tube.
That they are useful idiots.
I like how the twit tried to claim that “she wasn’t welcome in our town” then said “by some of us.”
Another leftist who knows what citizens should and should not be allowed to see.
Too bad they couldn’t postpone sentencing until after Obama takes office.
Yes, it could have been worse, you could be living in a state/country where they lop your head off for any insubordination at all.
““It could have been a lot worse,” Sandstedt said, carefully choosing words. “I wish it could have happened in a way in which the officers weren’t in as much risk.”
Typical leftist. It didn’t just “happen” you numbskull, YOU MADE IT HAPPEN.
It’s been snowing here in North-central Illinois for over 24 hours straight. Our new snow blower of less than 1 month has been worked repeatedly since November 30th. Recent wind chills have been in the area of -25 to -30. Although it’s warmed up slightly, overnight temps are still in the low single-digits. Now we’re supposed to get a layer of ice included with the snow before it quits sometime this afternoon (thanks to its warming up...). Whether we make it 90 miles West to Rock Island tomorrow for Christmas still remains open for debate.
We haven’t had winters like we’ve had these past 3 years in ages. If any idiot mentions GW to me they’ll get a swift kick in the nvtz. I’m fed up with their lunacy.
Oops, sorry, too many threads open...
My bet is all or most of these protesters are from Mesa State college, a liberal arts school in Grand Junction. Mesa County (GJ) is easily the most reliable republican leaning county in western Colorado.
No, just not by the vocal minority. GJ is a predominately conservative town. They can be thankful all they received were the fines. They should be glad that the motorcade didn't open up with one of them .50 caliber guns that pop out of the SUV's. Or by a private citizen even, considering the area.
So did the arsonists who set her church on fire...
We’ve had global warming every year since I was a boy. It’s called ‘summer’.
21-27 year old knuckleheads.....4 out of 5 of them will be voting for Sarah in 2012 after they have to grow up and look for work in an Obama economy.
Colorado has been taken over by liberals. Just as recently as 2004, the state was reliably conservative.
I have no sympathy for anyone run over by a tank, when they intentionally get in front of it to "make a statement", either.
Like Rachel Corrie? I laugh every time I think about that dipsh!t. I would love to have been that dozer driver.
Rachel Corrie is not making any more political statements!
I wish they had gotten jail time!
Refugees from California, eh? When they’re through botching up their own state, they migrate for fresh victims.
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