SPOKANE, Wash – Former Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart took responsibility for actions at an ICE protest last summer that led to him and eight others facing federal felony charges.
Stuckart pleaded guilty Monday to trying to impede federal officers. If he follows certain guidelines, his case will be reevaluated next summer and could be dropped down to a misdemeanor.
In June, two Venezuelan men who were seeking asylum in Spokane were detained by federal agents.
Stuckart had taken legal responsibility for one of the men and called on people of Spokane to come to the ICE facility north of downtown to protest.
Protesters blocked the exits so that federal agents and the detainees couldn’t get out.
The protest lasted for several hours, with Stuckart and several others detained.
Now, several of the nine defendants are entering plea agreements that could lead to the charges and punishments being reduced.
“I just plead guilty in court,” Stuckart said in a written statement that he also read outside federal court. “If I have learned one thing over the last 6 months it is that you can do the right thing and still have negative consequences.”
“When ICE took Cesar and Joswar (and put them in chains), I decided to stop them from taking my friends,” Stuckart said. “At the time, it was my hope that the Government would do the right thing and release them from custody. I understood what I was up against, but felt it was necessary to take a stand. I accept full responsibility for my conduct.”
Stuckart will be back in court in June, where it’s expected he’ll have his case reduced to a misdemeanor. He’ll then be sentenced based on that charge.
One other defendant pleaded guilty and entered a similar agreement last week. Three more change of plea hearings are scheduled for this week.
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