A decision will be reached today in the case of four former and current Ohio University students who were arrested in June on charges of disorderly conduct.
Judge William Grimm of Athens Municipal Court heard final arguments for the cases of Lauren Norton, Samuel Smyth, Kendall Frenche and Amy Thomas yesterday. Testimony in the cases was heard Sept. 15.
The case of a fifth student, Ronny Muasher, was originally supposed to be heard with the four others, but the police officer who will give primary testimony in Muasher's case is on a leave-of-absence, said Patrick McGee, managing attorney for the Center for Student Advocacy. The prosecution requested a continuance for Muasher's case.
Originally, Grimm was going to reach a decision in all five cases at the same time.
The cases stem from when six students were arrested on Court Street on June 4 shortly after leaving the club Evolution, 19 S. Court St. Five of the six defendants face minor misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges with a maximum sentence of a $150 fine and 30 hours community service. The sixth defendant, Julio Cumba III, faces separate charges and will go to trial in October.
McGee said the state has not proved accusations that the students were unlawfully assembled and preventing the movement of people on the sidewalk.
The question of whether someone can walk a straight line down the sidewalk is laughable
he said.
Lisa Eliason, the city prosecutor, said police officers had reason to be concerned and to make the arrests because the area around Evolution is a high-crime area.
Throughout the trial, she referred to previous incidents that occurred in the area. 17
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Danielle Trusso
