Federal Charges Against CSUCI Professor
The Federal University Ju Court has charged a professor from California State University Channel Islands, Jonathan Caravelo, in connection with an incident this summer involving law enforcement. He is accused of throwing tear gas canisters during a federal operation at a marijuana farm in Camarillo. The jury returned the charges on Wednesday.
Caravelo, 37, from Ventura, is facing a single count of assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon. He is currently free on a $15,000 bond and is anticipated to appear in Los Angeles’ US District Court in the coming weeks.
On July 10, federal agents from Homeland Security and the U.S. Border Patrol executed a search warrant on a 160-acre marijuana farm in Camarillo. Reports indicate that protesters gathered at the site, using their bodies and vehicles to block law enforcement’s exit, creating a tense situation.
As the situation escalated, it was reported that protesters threw rocks at government vehicles. These actions caused damage to windows and side mirrors of vehicles used by officials conducting immigration enforcement.
In response to the escalating violence, law enforcement deployed tear gas to maintain control and ensure officer safety. Some protesters even kicked away tear gas canisters. The indictment claims Caravelo ran to one of these canisters, attempted to kick it, and then, after it rolled past him, picked it up and threw it at a Border Patrol agent.
Authorities eventually arrested Caravelo, who reportedly resisted by kicking his legs and refusing to cooperate. In July, reports indicated that federal officials were offering rewards for information leading to the identification of another suspect involved in the protests.
Additionally, it was revealed that among the illegal immigrants found at the site were children forced to work in the fields.
Caravelo is listed as a Philosophy Lecturer on the CSUCI website. Following the incident, the university stated that it understood Caravelo was peacefully protesting, which is a right protected under the First Amendment.
If convicted, Caravelo could face a lengthy prison sentence of up to 20 years. Recently, the Department of Homeland Security released information indicating that on July 10, two operations in Camarillo and Carpinteria led to the arrest of 361 illegal immigrants and the rescue of 14 children. Some of those arrested have prior convictions for violent crimes.
