Federal Indictment of University Instructor Following Protest
A federal jury has indicted a university instructor after his actions during a federal raid at a marijuana facility in California this summer. The incident took place on July 10, involving 37-year-old Jonathan Caravello, who was part of a student group protesting against faculty members from California State University Channel Islands and other students involved in executing search warrants at Glasshouse Farm, a state-licensed marijuana operation in Camarillo.
According to a press release from the Department of Justice (DOJ), tensions escalated as the crowd became violent, throwing rocks at government vehicles and damaging property, including windows and mirrors.
Charges retrieved by Blaze News suggest that Caravello obstructed federal agents by making loud siren noises through a megaphone and gesturing aggressively toward Border Patrol agents. At one point, he reportedly picked up a tear gas canister thrown by law enforcement and threw it back toward the agents.
The DOJ reported that the canister was thrown at a height above law enforcement. Additional allegations indicate that Caravello may have thrown multiple canisters during the altercation. After he initially left the scene, he returned hours later, reportedly changing his clothing in an apparent attempt to disguise himself. He was soon identified and arrested despite resisting arrest.
During his arrest, Caravello allegedly kicked at the agents, refusing to cooperate. Notably, the charges stress that proving injury is not required to indict someone for assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.
In an unexpected twist, after his arrest, Caravello claimed on a social media platform that he was taken without explanation, highlighting his involvement in the protest against the federal action. He has expressed his commitment to safeguarding undocumented students and their families, stating, “It’s my responsibility to protect them.”
In his public statements, Caravello criticized various global issues, including military conflicts and police misconduct in the U.S., while also discussing the impact of immigration enforcement efforts in the local community. His tone during these comments often wavered between monotony and brief moments of passion, particularly when addressing local officials.
Caravello is currently listed as a lecturer in Philosophy at CSUCI, and the university confirmed that he remains employed there but has clarified that it will not support his defense. If convicted of the assault charge, Caravello could face up to 20 years in prison, and he is out on a $15,000 bond.
No comments have been made by either Caravello or the California Faculty Association regarding the indictment. A representative from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California noted that proving an injury isn’t necessary for an assault charge and emphasized that the law enforcement actions during the incident were based on a judicially approved search warrant.
