CSU professor acquitted of assaulting U.S. agents during immigration protest

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A Cal State Channel Islands professor said he is feeling a sense of “righteous indignation” after a federal jury acquitted him Thursday of charges that he hurled a tear gas canister at Border Patrol agents last summer during a protest against a sweeping immigration raid at a Southern California cannabis farm.A federal jury in downtown Los Angeles found Jonathan Caravello, 38, a U.S.citizen and lecturer in CSUCI’s math and philosophy department, not guilty of one count of assault on a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, according to prosecutors.Caravello said he declined a plea deal early in the process.“I knew I didn’t assault anyone and wasn’t going to take a plea,” he said.

He added that his position as a professor, white male, and access to a strong legal defense team made him feel it was his responsibility to fight the charges.“I thought it was my responsibility to take this to trial no matter how long it would take or the consequences,” he said.“If I had ended up in prison, I wouldn’t have regretted taking this to trial.”Caravello’s attorney, Knut Johnson of Singleton Schreiber, said his client had acted to protect those around him, not harm federal agents.

“John cleared a tear gas canister away from everyone,” Johnson said, pushing back on the government’s account and adding that tear gas had been deployed indiscriminately by law enforcement.He said the prosecution never should have made it to trial.“A law firm as powerful as the United States Department of Justice should never use their might to prosecute cases like this,” Johnson said.

“Going through nine months of accusations to a trial is incredibly stressful and will take years off your life, and John shouldn’t have gone through that.”The California Faculty Association, the union represent...