Homeless Outloud activist Terese Howard pleaded guilty Thursday to violating her probation for staying in an illegal tiny house on Denver Housing Authority land by later violating the city’s camping ban.
In return for the guilty plea, Howard’s probation was revoked, and will be reinstated. She must complete 30 hours of community service.
Howard could have received up to 30 days in jail.
But while Howard, an organizer for Homeless Out Loud, admitted to the parole violation, she told County Court Judge Clarisse Gonzales that the camping ban is illegal because it when sleeping on public sidewalks.
“It should not be illegal to cover oneself with a blanket,” Howard said.
The courtroom was crowded with members of Homeless Outloud and the group’s supporters.
Andy McNulty, Howard’s lawyer, said the city offered to settle the case by revoking the probation that she received for trespassing in October 2015, allowing her to plead guilty to the violation. The probation was then reinstated for one year.
Howard was first and found guilty of trespassing.
on Nov. 28, 2016, a day during which police repeatedly ordered large groups of homeless to move, first from in front of Samaritan House Shelter at 24th and Lawrence streets and Park Avenue West, and later at 27th and Arapahoe.
At the end of the chaotic day, the trio and a large number of other homeless people moved to a strip of grass outside the Denver City and County Building.
Lying down and covering up on the sidewalk was a violation of Howard’s probation in the tiny house case.
“I want to clarify that the violation of probation is clear,” she told the judge, but made added that her admission, “however, says nothing about whether there is guilt, or even if these laws should exist in the first place.”
Gonzales replied the courts don’t make the laws, but must enforce them.
“The likelihood of continuing to violate this is high,” Howard responded.
Howard walked into a hallway outside the courtroom to cheers from more than 30 supporters who witnessed the hearing.
