A Victorious Day

The Orange County DA’s office dismisses Kurt Isobe’s case

By Nao Gunji of the Rafu Shimpo

  

At Saturday, September 16th/s fundraising event in Little Tokyo for Kurt Isobe and his impending retrial, the Isobes announced to over 100 supporters that the Orange county District Attorney’s office dismissed the case Friday.

Isobe was one of the five protesters—later known as the “Garden Grove 5”—arrested at an anti-Minuteman Project demonstration held outside the Garden Grove Women’s Club on May 25, 2005.  He was initially charged with a felony and three misdemeanor counts for assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon (soda can filled with marbles), resisting arrest and interference with a police horse.

The bail was placed at $50,000 and the DA’s office argued that Isobe, then 18 and a full-time student, was a flight risk.  The attorney was eventually able to reduce the bail to $25,000 and Isobe was arraigned and released four days later from the county jail in Santa Ana.  He pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

On May 31 of this year, the trial ended with a hung jury and the Yonsei was found not guilty on two misdemeanor charges.  The jury was deadlocked on the charges of resisting arrest and interfering with the police officers, however, the DA’s office initially refused to drop the case and Isobe was due back in court on Sept. 18 for a possible retrial.

“First of all, thank you all very much for coming today and attending the fundraiser for Kurt,” Kurt’s father, Craig Isobe said to the audience.

We went to the courthouse on Friday and at that point, the DA’s office informed us that they were not going to pursue re-trying the case.  Thank you.  All the charges were dismissed, dropped.  There’re no strings attached—no probation, no jail time, no fines, nothing.” The father said, joyfully.

Cheryl Isobe, Kurt’s mother said that the family wishes to give back to the community by helping others in similar situations.  “Id like to thank everyone who made this happen today.  I think today, justice did win out.

Finally, Isobe made a statement before his band, Kyoko, performed on the state.  “I have a long list of people I need to thank,” he said.  “I couldn’t have done this for 16 months. I couldn’t have done it without my parents so I want to thank my mom and my dad. Thank you for supporting me.”

The event was sponsored by Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress and Yellow Brotherhood.  All the proceeds will go to legal fees for the trial in May.