In what city prosecutor Dan Barkovic said is the single-largest fine ever assessed by the Eugene Municipal Court for an incident of its nature, the court announced the sentence of the Campbell Club, almost three months after its Nov. 22 party.
The court placed the club on a one-year probation for charges of prohibited noise and furnishing alcohol to a minor, both received during the November party, where 47 citations were given. Beginning in March, the club will pay $1,000 in fines at the rate of $100 each month.
Two club residents, University student Aaron Nelson and former University student Ian Royer, also received sentences, including a $200 fine and 20 hours of community service.
The decision branched from a deal reached last week between the court and Lauren Regan, an attorney from the Civil Liberties Defense Center who represented the club. Instead of paying as individual residents, the agreement offers the club the less expensive option of paying collectively.
Before June 1, all house members originally cited must complete 60 hours of community service. The group will fulfill its hours at an alcohol awareness program hosted by a local alcohol detoxification center, the Buckley House.
For the next year, the court ordered a condition of probation for the club that requires no outside social events be hosted until the club submits amended house policies to the court. Regan said residents plan to reconsider whether to allow outside groups to host events at their facility.
If the Campbell Club fails to comply with any of the court’s conditions or becomes involved in similar charges before the one-year period ends, Barkovic said the house will be in violation of parole and the court will review if additional sanctions are necessary.
Regan said the ultimate outcome was the correct one. “However,” she said, “it would have been a much better use of resources if the police had treated this as just another noise complaint. The police overreaction exasperated the whole situation.”
University junior and club resident Fred Sproat said the co-op’s approach to the police situation played into the sentencing decision.
“We neither gave into the police the night they came without a warrant nor did we plea guilty in court, and as a result everyone got off much better than if we had given in at either point,” Sproat said in an e-mail. “I think people should learn from this and realize the power they have and what their rights guarantee in the face of police threats.”
Club residents Royer and Nelson, both charged with interfering with a police officer, also faced sentencing this week. City prosecutor Anna Spickerman said Royer entered a no-contest plea and must pay the $200 fee, fulfill the required community service hours and not commit similar crimes within a six-month period.
City prosecutor Liz Carle said the court resolved Nelson’s case the same way.
“They were both given sentences which are known as diversion agreement,” Carle said. “Think of it as the court trying to divert a person from continuing down a criminal path.”
Carle said if the charges are dismissed after the six month period, Royer and Nelson will retain the record of their arrests but they can remove the charges from their records.
When all cases involving club residents and other individuals cited at the party are resolved, Barkovic said the court will have levied about $2,500 in fines and costs, and defendants will have completed more than 100 hours of community service.
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Campbell Club assessed $1,000 fine, on probation
Daily Emerald
February 19, 2009
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