Charges yet to be dropped against student who tackled anti-Trump protester

Daniel Smyth
Fri, 18 Nov 2016 03:06:36 +0000
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The crowd moves in after protester Tim Adams is tackled in the Ohio Union on Nov. 14. Credit: Sam Harris | Assistant Photo Editor

Despite the request from the victim to drop the assault charges against Shane Michael Stanton, no decision has yet been made from the Franklin County prosecutor’s office on whether that will happen.

“The charges have been filed. They have not been dropped if that’s your question,” prosecutor Zachary Gwin told The Lantern on Thursday.

Shane Michael Stanton is awaiting trial for assault after a tackling Tim Adams, who was speaking at a protest against President-elect Donald Trump at the Ohio Union on Monday. Stanton was arraigned in court on Tuesday and released on bond. A pretrial hearing is set for Dec. 8.

Gwin said the pretrial hearing will give an opportunity for him and the defense attorney to discuss the case. The defense will also have the opportunity to gather discovery evidence, which will ultimately help both sides decide on how to proceed with the case, Gwin said.

It came to light after the incident that Stanton has Asperger Syndrome, which experts say could have affected Stanton’s actions Monday night. Stanton is also not a Trump supporter, said friends, his family and his attorney. The Lantern never labeled Stanton a Trump supporter, though various outlets reporting on the viral video of the collision got that detail wrong.

Gwin said there will not be a decision on whether the charges will be dropped until the pretrial hearing is over.

Stanton’s lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.