"During a protest on April 20, 2024, Carlson ignited a Jewish student's Israeli flag, partially burning it with a lighter before the flag's owner pulled it away, according to prosecutors. On April 30 of the same year, Carlson was part of a group arrested for unlawfully occupying Columbia's Hamilton Hall. After he was taken into custody that time, Carlson struck a camera in his processing cell, breaking it, according to a criminal complaint."
"Carlson pleaded guilty on Monday to criminal mischief and trespassing. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss some of the more serious charges against him, including arson. In exchange, he is expected to spend a year on interim probation, perform 100 hours of community service and pay the flag owner $25 in restitution."
"James Carlson was one of the hundreds of people arrested at campus demonstrations across New York City in the spring of 2024, as students and residents protested the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Carlson, 42, is an attorney, not a student or faculty member, according to the DA's office."
James Carlson, a 42-year-old attorney, pleaded guilty in Manhattan state court to criminal mischief and trespassing following his arrest during 2024 campus protests against the Israel-Hamas war. On April 20, 2024, Carlson burned a Jewish student's Israeli flag with a lighter during a demonstration. Later that month, he participated in an unlawful occupation of Columbia's Hamilton Hall and damaged a camera in his processing cell. Prosecutors dismissed more serious charges including arson. Carlson received one year interim probation, must complete 100 hours of community service, and pay $25 restitution to the flag owner. The Assistant District Attorney deemed the sentence appropriate given Carlson's lack of prior criminal convictions.
Read at Gothamist
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