Jury deliberates ICE protestors indictment amid defenses denial of conspiracy

SPOKANE, Wash. — A federal jury is still deliberating on a verdict for individuals referred by supporters as the ‘Spokane Three,’ whom were arrested during last June’s ICE protest in downtown Spokane. 

After nearly two weeks of testimony, the jury today heard closing arguments from attorneys representing Jac Archer, Bajun Mavalwalla ||, and Justice Forall.

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The jury also heard closing and rebuttal arguments from attorneys representing the Eastern District of Washington's U.S. District Court.

Archer, Mavalwalla and Forall are accused of conspiring to injure and impede law enforcement officers during the protest.

The defense argued there was no conspiracy against officers and that people attended the protest for different reasons. The defense also claimed federal officers instigated violence. 

Justice Forall’s counsel said they were not part of any group intending to be arrested for civil disobedience. For Mavalwalla, counsel argued he did not encourage the crowd’s actions, but attended the protest on his own accord after feeling compassion for the cause. As for Archer, the defense argued he took steps to maintain safety and to discourage violence.

In response, the prosecution argued video footage showed coordinated communication within the crowd and that officers tried to verbally de-escalate the situation to no avail and before reasonably feeling threatened. 

The jury is currently deliberating, though there is no known time to expect a verdict.