Protesters who smeared red paint on roads and smashed windows during a Black Lives Matter protest in Salt Lake City could spend life in prison.
Prosecutors charged several people with felony criminal mischief, which carries a gang enhancement and could lead to life in prison in Utah. The prosecutors argued that the charges were warranted because the protesters worked together to commit crimes during the protests.
Madalena McNeil, one of the alleged participants, claimed the punishments were “retaliatory” and said she should not be facing life in prison because she bought red paint and shoved a police officer during a July 9 protest.
“This is so far beyond just the enforcement of the law, it feels retaliatory,” McNeil, 28, told the Associated Press. “It’s really frustrating and scary … I just feel so much concern for what this means for the right to protest in general.”
Jason Groth, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah, was outraged by the charges.
“You are calling participants in a protest gang members,” he said.
Brent Huff, an attorney representing Madison Alleman, said the sentence facing his client is “usually reserved for murders and rapists.” Jesse Nix, who is representing another protester, Viviane Turman, said, “No one should get life in prison for putting paint on a building.”
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said that it is unlikely that the protesters will spend any significant time behind bars. The current charges carry a five-year minimum, but Gill, a Democrat, said that he expects a plea deal involving lesser counts.
“I don’t think anyone is going to be going to prison on this,” Gill said. He later added, “There’s some people who want to engage in protest, but they want to be absolved of any behavior. This is not about protest. This is about people who are engaging in criminal conduct.”
