Not guilty pleas were entered Tuesday for the 10 charged with starting a campfire in the Tea Gardens.
“There is an offer on the table (from the DA’s office),” attorney Joshua Webb, who represents Joshua Grant Decker-Trinidad said. “I think there’s a good chance there will be some type of resolution.”
“I would imagine that this case will not go to trial,” Webb said.
It is unknown what the offer is, but Webb did say that it would include “some type of community service.”
District Attorney Eric Hanson, the prosecutor who is overseeing the case, did not immediately return inquiries as to what was offered.
The 10, nine of which were City College students in fall of 2008, are charged with two misdemeanor counts of both trespassing and starting a campfire without a permit. Penalties of up to $1,000 or a six-month prison sentence could be imposed if they are convicted.
Seven attorneys represented the 10, and all agreed jointly to schedule the next hearing at 8:30 a.m. April 7, in Department 10 of the Figueroa Superior Court Division in Santa Barbara.
Of the defendants, only Fahad Al-Fadhel was present. He did not attend the previous arraignment two weeks ago, as he was in Kuwait. Al-Fadhel was assigned a public defender.
It was initially believed by the public that the 10 were responsible for the Tea Fire, which burned 1,940 acres of land and destroyed 210 homes in its path.
However, after a 3-month investigation into the Tea Fire was concluded on Feb. 13, the District Attorney’s office decided that there wasn’t enough evidence to charge the students with starting the blaze.
The names of those facing charges are as follows: Mohammed Alessam, Fahad Al-Fadhel, Hope Sjohnet Dunlap, Hashim Ali Hassan, Casey James Lamonte, Natalie Rose Maese, Carver William McLellan, Stephen Reid, Joshua Grant Decker Trinidad and Lauren Elizabeth Vazquez.
Hope Sjohnet Dunlap is a former member of The Channels from Fall 2008. When asked for an interview, Dunlap declined comment.
Around 20 people from the general community attended the arraignment, however multiple media outlets were present.
