PASADENA >> A jury convicted a Pasadena Black Lives Matter organizer Wednesday of a felony charge of attempting to snatch a person from police custody stemming from a confrontation with police that followed the arrest of another woman accused of fighting with staff at a local restaurant, authorities said.
The Pasadena jury deliberated for about three hours before finding Jasmine Richards, 29, guilty of “attempting to unlawfully take a person from the lawful custody of a peace officer,” Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Sarah Ardalani said. The trial began on May 25.
The crime is often referred to as “lynching,” though prosecutors no longer use the term to described the offense, Ardalani said.
The arrest took place Sept. 2 as Richards and others were holding a rally at La Pintoresca Park.
A woman came to the park after allegedly being involved in a fight with staff at a nearby restaurant after failing to pay her bill, police said.
As police arrested the woman, Richards and others interfered with the arrest and tried to unlawfully seize control of the arrestee, officials said.
Police initially jailed Richards on suspicion of additional crimes including inciting a riot, resisting or obstructing police and child endangerment, but those allegations were not formally charged.
Local BLM representatives decried the arrest via Facebook as unjust retaliation for her activism.
Richards was previously arrested by police on suspicion of making criminal threats and other misdemeanors in connection with a previous BLM rally in Pasadena in March of 2015. She is scheduled to make an appearance in that case Tuesday as well, records show.
Supporters and demonstrators reportedly packed the courtroom Wednesday and expressed outrage over the conviction.
Richards, who had been free on bond pending the trial process, was taken into custody following Wednesday’s conviction, records show.
She is scheduled to return to court Tuesday for sentencing.