California DOJ drops felony charges against 5 remaining Stanford protesters who broke into offices

The California Department of Justice dropped felony charges against five pro-Palestinian protesters who were accused of breaking into the Stanford University’s administrative office and barricading themselves inside in 2024.

The defendants, which include one current student and four Stanford alumni, agreed to complete 100 hours of community service and to pay restitution amounting to $51,973, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Initial estimates of the damages ranged from $360,000 to $1 million.

“This resolution requires the defendants to make amends to the community for their actions through extensive community service and ensures they fully reimburse Stanford for all repairs,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said in a statement to the Chronicle.

Last year, Santa Clara County prosecutors charged 12 protesters with felony vandalism and conspiracy to trespass. Some of those individuals settled their cases before trial and others entered a diversion program, according to the Chronicle. The other five defendants went to trial, but the jury did not reach an agreement on either charge. 

Earlier this year, a Santa Clara Superior Court judge ordered Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen to hand the case over to Bonta’s office. The public defender representing one of the defendants asked the judge to remove Rosen from the prosecution for improperly accusing the students of antisemitism and using the case as a fundraising tool, the Chronicle reported. 

This story was originally published by EdSource.