Charges filed against four demonstrators arrested during a July protest outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Arapahoe County will be dismissed Friday, the 18th Judicial District announced Thursday.
Yoselin Corrales, Arnie Carter, El Moss and Terry Burnsed were each charged with obstructing a passageway outside the Centennial ICE facility, at 12445 E. Caley Ave., according to court records. Corrales and Moss were also charged with obstructing a peace officer.
Community rallies around 4 charged in Arapahoe County protests against ICE
The group was arrested after ignoring orders from Arapahoe County sheriff's deputies to stop blocking unspecified passageways at the ICE field office during the protest, according to a from the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office.
After further review, prosecutors decided the criminal cases should not move forward, the release stated.
"I believe strongly in the First Amendment and the right of people to peacefully assemble, speak out and protest," District Attorney Amy Padden said in a statement. "Those rights are fundamental to our democracy. The law is clear that criminal statutes cannot criminalize speech.
"However, the right to freedom of speech is not absolute and does not protect against prosecution for criminal conduct," Padden's statement continued.
The DA's office has a responsibility to pursue cases "only where we can prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt," Padden said. She said dismissing the four cases is an "appropriate exercise of prosecutorial discretion" and "in the interest of justice."
Dozens of community members showed up to support the four protesters during their arraignments at the Arapahoe County Justice Center on Sept. 9.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
