Full Breakdown
Spokane Protesters Convicted of Federal Conspiracy for Blocking ICE Transfer
5/30/2026, 9:00:02 PM
Conviction Overview
On May 28, 2026 a federal jury in Spokane found Jac Archer, Justice Forral and Bajun Mavalwalla II guilty of conspiracy to impede or injure ICE officers, including aiding and abetting. The statute permits up to six years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
Protest Background & Participants
The June 11, 2025 protest outside the Spokane ICE office responded to a Facebook call by former council president Ben Stuckart, guardian of detainee Cesar Alvarez Perez. Demonstrators tried to block a bus moving the two Venezuelan detainees, Perez and Joswar Rodriguez Torres, to Tacoma. Arrested protesters Jac Archer, Justice Forral and Bajun Mavalwalla II were charged with conspiracy to impede or injure ICE officers; Archer faced three counts, Forral one, and Mavalwalla one aiding-and-abetting count. Stuckart later pleaded guilty to a reduced misdemeanor.
Trial Timeline & Verdict
Following a July 2025 indictment of nine protesters, the case went to trial in May 2026. The eight-day trial ended on May 28, 2026 with a jury finding all three defendants guilty of conspiring to impede ICE officers but acquitting them of any “conspiracy to injure.” Archer received three counts, Forral one, and Mavalwalla one aiding-and-abetting count; no officer was injured.
Official & Opposition Responses
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Cartier-Giroux told jurors agents “felt afraid” and that defendants “planned to block the exit.” Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown described the prosecution as “politically motivated.” Defense attorney Carl Oreskovich called the case “extraordinarily aggressive” and warned it could chill First Amendment activity. ACLU legal director La Rond Baker warned of a “chilling effect” on protest, and legal scholar Steffen Seitz warned that vague conspiracy statutes risk criminalizing ordinary protest. Bajun Mavalwalla Sr. argued the government was “making an example” of his son.
On-the-Ground & Discrepancies
Police deployed smoke canisters and pepper balls while protesters linked arms around vans, placed benches and scooters at the gate, and slashed tires. No injuries were reported. Sources differ on Justice’s surname spelling (“Forral” vs. “Forall”) and on the exact count of conspiracy charges each defendant received. Most reports say the jury found no conviction for “conspiracy to injure,” though one source notes the charge carries a six-year maximum. The coordinated plan remains contested between prosecution and defense narratives.
Verbatim Quotes
- “You started this and you couldn’t even show up to finish it,” — Rep. Natasha Hill, D-Spokane
- “I feel awful about the guilty verdict.” — Ben Stuckart, former Spokane City Council President
- “One of the problems of the statute is it required a use of force,” — Carl Oreskovich, defense attorney for Jac Archer
- “We remain concerned about the chilling effect that the Department of Justice’s charging decisions will have on protest and free expression in this country.” — La Rond Baker, Legal Director, ACLU of Washington
Next Steps
The defendants plan to appeal and have filed a Rule 29 motion to overturn the convictions. Judge Rebecca Pennell will consider the motion and any dismissal requests by early July. Sentencing has not been set pending the outcome of these motions.
