A second pro-Palestinian demonstrator pleaded guilty to reduced charges News

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URBANA. A second person charged after pro-Palestinian demonstrations on the University of Illinois campus has settled his case by pleading guilty.

25-year-old Joseph M. Kleckner, of Savannah, pleaded guilty to obstructing a law enforcement officer. The Class 4 felony charge was dismissed.

Kleckner was the fifth of eight people charged in connection with the mob after the April 26 demonstration near the alma mater statue on the university campus, but he was not charged until July after police used video evidence to identify him.

The charges relate to an interaction between demonstrators and police early that morning, after demonstrators gathered and set up tents around 6 a.m.

State Attorney Julia Ritz said UI officials told the group they were violating school rules and could be charged with trespassing if they stayed.

Officials tried to negotiate with the group for about two hours to remove the structures, but UI police were concerned about social media posts urging people to “protect the camp,” Ritz said.

Officials first attempted to remove the structures at 8:23 a.m., but demonstrators surrounded the tents and held hands to block access. They were again told to remove the tents or face trespassing charges, but they did not.

In the end, the UP police broke the circle and removed the tents.

Investigators later compared the body camera footage to other media, including social media posts, to identify the demonstrators who pushed or shoved the officers.

They used a license plate reader to identify a vehicle delivering supplies to the demonstrators; The vehicle’s registration and driver’s license photo identified Kleckner as the protester captured on the body camera.

After pleading guilty, Kleckner was sentenced to one year of probation with 100 hours of community service, which may include hours of education, treatment, rehabilitation, sobriety-based self-help group meetings, a victim impact panel and GED classes.

Victor Smith, 22, of Champaign, is the only other protester facing mass action charges to open his case. He also pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, the mob action charge was dropped, and he was given the same sentence.