Wife Of Fur Store Owner Lies On The Stand

By Christopher Tarbell

SYRACUSE, NY -- In the second trial in the last 4 months invlving Animal Defense League activists, Bryan Pease was found guilty of criminal contempt of court and not guilty of unlawful assembly. The curt proceeding took place in mid-October. Bryan was arrested and charged with unlawful assembly on February 17,1996 at the same protest in which avid Agranoff, Nicole Rogers, Christopher Tarbell and others were jailed (see other Syracuse Court Update article).

In February, Bryan was exercising his right to free speech and right to protest by standing in front of Georgio's Furs in downtownSyracuse, holding a sign and chanting. As a result of his arrest, he was given a restraining order by the city court. While leaflettin at Georgio's in late July 1996, Bryan was wrongfully accused by an employee of the store of violating his restraining order. The employee, who recognized Bryan and immediately called the police, claimed under oath in court that Bryan was, at some point during his leafletting activities, standing directly in front of the store's display window. A warrant for his arrest was filed, and two days later, at an ADL protest at the store, he was arrested.

As a defense witness, another ADL activist present that day, testified that at no time was Bryan within 50 ft. of the store. Judge William DeJoseph completely discounted this testimony, however, instead showing with his resulting ruling that he believed the employee of Georgio's Furs sworn statements were correct. Interestingly, there was no physical evidence with which to concretely prove that Bryan had in fact violated his restraining order. Furthermore, the terms of this order were quite unclear, as no specific distance was placed on it. Bryan was told to "stay away from Georgio's Furs, located on the 300 block of S. Salina Street, Syracuse, NY". It is unclear how the defendant could have violated a restraining order that was so poorly written.

Bryan will return to court on November 27, 1996 for sentencing. A modified restraining order has been issued to him and will remain in effect for an, as of yet, undetermined period of time. The never-ending battle with the Syracuse city "justice" system continues....