Hollister
– The District Attorney’s office has reached a settlement with
two Hollister pro-military demonstrators who were sued by then-DA
John Sarsfield at the beginning of 2006, alleging that they had
assaulted a downtown business owner.
Hollister – The District Attorney’s office has reached a settlement with two Hollister pro-military demonstrators who were sued by then-DA John Sarsfield at the beginning of 2006, alleging that they had assaulted a downtown business owner.
Under the terms of the settlement, husband and wife Marvin and Reba Jones may not intentionally interfere with operation of the downtown tax service run by Mercedes Capillo or impede access to the business. The Joneses also agreed not to initiate any disturbance of the peace with Capillo.
The Joneses are part of a small group – known as the Freedom Rally – that typically demonstrates in support of the U.S. military on Friday afternoons outside Capillo’s office at the northwest corner of Fourth and San Benito streets.
The settlement is considerably less punitive for the Joneses than what Sarsfield previously said he was hoping for.
“They will either admit what they did was wrong and racially motivated or we’re going to trial,” Sarsfield told the Free Lance on May 2, 2006. “And they are going to pay or we’re going to trial.”
Sarsfield declined to comment on the settlement Friday.
Marvin Jones also declined to comment, except to say, “I’m glad it’s over.”
Capillo declined to comment as well.
Sarsfield’s suit alleged that Marvin Jones violated Capillo’s rights during a Freedom Rally demonstration in 2005 by pushing her against a wall during an argument. The suit also alleged that Reba Jones told Capillo, who is of Hispanic-Chinese-American descent, to “go back where you came from.”
Marvin and Reba Jones have repeatedly denied these charges.
The settlement forbids the involved parties and their attorneys from discussing the settlement or posting its details on the Internet. The agreement is signed by DA Candice Hooper, Deputy DA Karen Forcum, the Joneses and their attorney, George Barton.
Barton also declined to comment.
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
