December 05, 2017 - 11:30 AM
DURHAM, N.C. - The Latest on a court hearing for protesters accused of toppling a Confederate statue in North Carolina (all times local):
2:20 p.m.
The protester who climbed a North Carolina Confederate statue to help topple it says she plans to fight rioting and property damage charges by going to trial.
Takiyah Thompson was among nine protesters in court Tuesday on charges they tore down the statue in Durham. One defendant struck a deal to avoid a felony, while Thompson and others had their cases continued until 2018.
Thompson says she won't take any prosecution deals and plans to go to trial because she believes the charges are unfair. Thompson has publicly acknowledged climbing a ladder and attaching the rope so protesters on the ground could pull down the statue on Aug. 14.
She told reporters Tuesday that toppling the statue of an anonymous rebel soldier was the "will of the people."
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12:30 p.m.
A protester accused of helping tear down a North Carolina Confederate statue has struck a deal to avoid a felony charge, while other defendants had their cases continued.
Durham County Judge James T. Hill said Tuesday he would allow a deferred prosecution deal for Ngoc Loan Tran on several misdemeanour property damage counts. Defence attorney Scott Holmes said the misdemeanours will be dismissed after Tran pays $1,250 in restitution and completes 100 hours of community service.
Tran was among a dozen charged with felony and misdemeanour counts of tearing down the statue of an anonymous Confederate at a Durham government building August 14. One climbed up to attach a rope, then protesters yanked it down.
Eight demonstrators had cases continued until January 11. Charges were previously dropped against three others.
News from © The Associated Press, 2017