Cecily McMillan, who was arrested for elbowing a cop during an Occupy Wall Street demonstration 2012, was found guilty of assaulting a police officer earlier this week. Now, nine of the twelve jurors who convicted her have written a letter to the judge, urging him not to send her to prison
“We the jury petition the court for leniency in the sentencing of Cecily McMillan,” reads their letter, as published by the Guardian. “We would ask the court to consider probation with community service.”
“We feel that the felony mark on Cecily’s record is punishment enough for this case and that it serves no purpose to Cecily or to society to incarcerate her for any amount of time.”
Cecily faces a wide range of punishments at her sentencing later this month. Judge Ronald Zweibel could elect not to give her any jail time at all, and assaulting a police officer carries a maximum sentence of seven years.
“I think this letter is a significant statement from people who have deep familiarity with the facts of the case,” said Martin Stolar, McMillan’s attorney. “It is an expression on their part that she has been punished enough. It also tracks the argument that defense counsel will be making.”
