Jury verdict: Protester guilty of both charges
EUGENE, Ore. -- A jury found a University of Oregon student who was shocked twice with a Taser while being arrested by police guilty of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
The six-person jury returned the verdict just before 6 p.m. Thursday, the third day of the trial.
Ian Van Ornum, 19, had testified in his own defense earlier in the day, saying police seemed more interested in hurting him than taking him into custody at an anti-pesticide rally in May 2008.
But prosecutor Bob Lane told the jury that the police use of the Taser happened after Van Ornum broke the law.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Van Ornum was accused of blocking traffic and struggling with police.
He took the stand in his own defense Thursday and said he was protesting peacefully on May 30, 2008, and staying out of traffic when officers grabbed him.
"Did you resist the officers?" defense attorney Laura Fine asked.
"I did not resist," Van Ornum said. "I reacted to the pain."
A jury of six people did not believe him, instead convicting Van Ornum on two misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
He faces sentencing next week.
During the three day trial, jurors heard testimony from nearly 20 people and watched video clips, including one taken by a police car's camera.
Van Ornum can be heard off camera talking to the officers who arrested him.
"I totally agree with you, I was blocking traffic to some extent," Van Ornum can be heard saying, "but I just want to say I was only out there before you came up, for a few minutes, and the thing had been going on for hours."
Another clip shown earlier this week shows Van Ornum being shocked twice with a Taser by police. The footage was captured by a camera mounted on the Taser.
The use of the Taser prompted public outcry and allegations of excessive force.
"Nothing Mr. Van Ornum did gave rise to that level of force and that's what Mr. Van Ornum's defense is," Fine said. "He has a right to defend himself against excessive force."
The prosecution contended the Taser use happened after the crimes took place.
"As I told you in my opening statement, either the defendant committed these two crimes before the Taser was taken out of its holster or he didn't," prosecutor Bob Lane told the jury.
Van Ornum and his lawyers would not comment after the verdict.
The maximum penalty for a Class A misdemeanor is one year in prison and a fine of just over $6,000. It is possible Van Ornum will get a lesser sentence. | MORE
