Judge Dismisses Felony Riot Charge Against Antifa Who Caused Chaos in DC on Inauguration Day

DC Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz has dismissed the felony charges of inciting a riot against the first six protesters standing trial over the riots that took place across the city on Inauguration Day.

There are still 188 people who are facing trial following this first group.

On January 20, 2017, thousands of supporters of President Donald Trump flocked to Washington, DC, hoping to witness his historic inauguration. Instead, many were forced to face off with violent black-clad rioters creating chaos, committing arson and assaulting people in the streets.

During the riot six police officers were injured, businesses were vandalized, multiple people were assaulted and a limousine was spray painted and set on fire.

“At approximately 10:30 a.m., an organized group was observed marching south in Northwest Washington,” Metropolitan police said in a press release in January. “On their way, members of the group acting in a concerted effort engaged in acts of vandalism and several instances of destruction of property. More specifically, the group damaged vehicles, destroyed the property of multiple businesses, and ignited smaller isolated fires while armed with crowbars, hammers, and asps. Preliminary information indicates the group collectively engaged in these criminal acts.”

The cost of the damage to the city was estimated to be approximately $100,000 by the US Attorney’s office.

In November, Michelle Macchio, 26, of Naples, Fla., Jennifer Armento, 38, of Philadelphia, Christina Simmons, 20, of Cockeysville, Md., Alexi Wood, 33, of Hyattsville, Md., Oliver Harris, 28, of Philadelphia and Brittne Lawson, 27, of Pittsburgh, became the first six defendants to face trial.

All six are still facing five other charges, including property damage. The defense’s motion to acquit was denied by Leibovitz on Wednesday, and she described the incident as an “organized, concerted riot” and stated that all defendants were aware of that fact while they participated.

If convicted, the defendants are still facing up to 50 years in prison for their actions.

Of the 212 arrested, 20 people have already pleaded guilty and charges were dropped for another 20. According to the Washington Post, trials for the others, in groups of five or more, are set to occur almost monthly through mid-2018.

 

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