Photos
Margaret Belknap, 22, testified at trial that she did not intentionally kick or strike any officers during her April 8 arrest at the rally in downtown Olympia. She testified that she might have had inadvertent physical contact with an officer.
The Thurston County jury had to believe beyond a reasonable doubt that Belknap intentionally struck or intentionally attempted to strike an officer to convict her of the charge of third-degree assault.
During closing arguments Tuesday, a prosecutor conceded that Belknap did not strike one of the officers, Jason Winner, with her foot, but attempted to kick him. In Washington, a person need not make physical contact when attempting to strike a police officer for the incident to count as a third-degree assault.
The other officer Belknap was accused of kicking, Chuck Gassett, testified Monday that Belknap “was making direct eye contact with me when she was kicking.” Belknap was accused in court papers of kicking Gassett in the knee and groin.
Belknap and about 25 other protesters were arrested at the rally. Demonstrators were clad in black, their faces covered in hoods and scarves.
The group marched from Olympia’s west side down the Fourth Avenue Bridge and into downtown. Police blocked the march at Adams Street and State Avenue and arrested the entire group after reports that the protesters were throwing bottles and rocks at buildings, spray-painting property and dragging trash containers into the streets.
Jami Williams, 20, was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor assault and vandalism after allegedly assaulting Tony Overman, a photographer for The Olympian. Overman said protesters spray-painted his face and camera as he took a photo of someone spray-painting a street sign.
After Belknap’s arrest, she denied that she had kicked an officer, court papers state. She also told an officer, “The last time an officer said I assaulted him, the charge got dismissed, no contest. My mom has a lot of money, my friend,” according to court papers.
Belknap had a previous arrest in San Francisco in 2009 on suspicion of three counts of third-degree assault, but the case was dismissed after she completed a diversion program, court papers state.
Belknap will be sentenced Thursday in Thurston County Superior Court. Another protester convicted of assaulting a police officer during the demonstration, Paul Joseph French, 25, was sentenced in July to three months of work release from the Thurston County Jail. During work release, an inmate is allowed to work during the day and must return to the jail overnight as he or she completes a sentence.
Belknap testified Monday that she plans to return to The Evergreen State College this fall.
Jeremy Pawloski: 360-754-5465 jpawloski@theolympian.com
