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Woman found not guilty of indecent exposure during Cedar Fest

By Abby Lubbers (Last updated: 08/19/08 8:18pm)

A 19-year-old woman was found not guilty Tuesday of indecent exposure during the Cedar Fest riots.

Elizabeth Hart, who pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor offense, wasn’t convicted by a six-person jury that heard her case in East Lansing’s 54-B District Court.

Four members of the East Lansing Police Department, who had all been involved in Hart’s arrest, testified as witnesses for the city of East Lansing.

East Lansing police Detective James Campbell, Sgt. Scott Wrigglesworth and Lt. Lance Langdon each described seeing Hart from behind as she lifted her shirt for the Cedar Fest crowd April 5 at 11:55 p.m. Officer Barbara Kraus testified about a conversation she had with Hart after her arrest.

None of the witnesses could confirm whether Hart was wearing an undergarment at the time of the event.

Jury members reviewed a police video of the incident and the witnesses’ testimonies as evidence in the case.

The jury reached its not guilty verdict after about 55 minutes of deliberation.

Originally Published: 08/19/08 3:24pm

Commentary:

gr

08/19/08 4:00pm

So, let me get this straight….NOT ONE officer or witness saw anything “indecent” but EL arrested and prosecuted her anyway?

Help the students

08/19/08 7:44pm

False arrest? I think maybe!! I’d call ACLU. She paid alot in money, time and stress for East Lansing to have no evidence. This just isn’t right putting family and friends threw this.
Congrats on winning. Good Luck this school year.

yeah

08/19/08 8:43pm

so she was probably just wiping sweat off of her face when she lifted her shirt?

MSU MOM

08/19/08 9:06pm

Hope the State News will be reporting this on the front page just as they report all the guilty convictions!

MSU Student

08/19/08 11:47pm

MSU MOM, reporting all the convictions on the front page is a way of demonstrating the community that the University nor the police will tolerate any kind of conduct that risk the reputation of MSU and of the community. It is okay to say that East Lansing has a friendly environment, but that does not mean that people can do whatever they want. As a student, I support any action taken by the police of university officials against people that act against the sense of responsibility that as students of a top international university we must have. If you, MSU MOM, disagree with me please remove your child from MSU and put him in a zoo, where he can do whatever he wants. Finally…GO GREEN!!

MSU MOM

08/20/08 7:23am

As an MSU alumni, I have no problem with the State News reporting convictions on the front page. If the State will continue reporting an incident that took place five months ago on the front page, then report all the news, including the suspects that were found not guilty. The State News is a forum for ALL the news regarding MSU and E. Lansing.

Life isn't fair

08/20/08 7:59am

“Jury members reviewed a police video of the incident and the witnesses’ testimonies as evidence in the case.”

Damn…how come I never get summoned for jury duty on the Girls Gone Wild cases?

They are just breasts

08/20/08 9:00am

Why are naked breasts “indecent?” I’m not advocating woman going around shirtless, but honestly, they are just breasts. Who Cares? Who among the Cedar Fest participants was harmed by seeing any woman’s breasts? I am personally more offended by parents that allow there children to become obese than some girl flashing the crowd fro 1.5 seconds. Yet, that is perfectly legal despite the fact the the child is undoubtedly harmed or put at unacceptable risk.

Emily

08/20/08 10:00am

Good grief. MSU MOM if you went to MSU then you should know that you are an MSU ALUMNUS. Unless you are more than one person, you can’t be Alumni.

Amen to that!

08/20/08 11:13am

To everyone who either commented on breasts being indecent, being reported on the front page and questioning why the police arrested her AND prosecuted her with NO evidence … AMEN! The funniest thing to me about the whole “riot” (if you can call it that. I mean, there weren’t any burnt couches or flipped cop cars.) is that the majority of people arrested aren’t MSU students. Why wasn’t that reported as publicly?

ehillesum

08/20/08 11:35am

Remember, the government has the burden of proving “beyond a reasonable doubt” that she exposed herself. From the report, it sounds like she did so. The fact that the jury decided there was a reasonable doubt does not mean the prosecution should not have been pursued. And note, by the way, it would have been pretty easy for one of the officers to say they had a frontal view. That makes me more confident that the police in EL are trustworthy.

'91 alumnus

08/20/08 12:04pm

Actually, Emily, unless MSU MOM is a “Mr. Mom” then she is an ALUMNA, not alumnus.

And regardless of whether you think naked breasts are “indecent” (and I do not), in this situation their exposure contributes to the general atmosphere of lawlessness and “anything goes.” It riles up the drunk, testosterone-addled boys in her vicinity and makes those who are predisposed toward violence and property damage more likely to do so.

Besides, it’s the duty of the police to enforce the law, not interpret it, and the law says naked breasts = indecent exposure. If you think that’s wrong, work to change the law.

Support the students

08/20/08 12:06pm

I am also a MSU mom. Over the years I have watched in horror as East Lansing and The State News has condemned the students for being students. For some reason they seem to think that just because they are in college they have magically turned into an adult. These college students are learning to become adults. First time away from home, living in dorms with just friends, able to come and go as they please.

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Fred

08/20/08 1:29pm

Maybe after reviewing all of the evidence, the jury decided that she had “decent” breasts and that flashing them to the crowed would have been “decent” exposure.

Support the students

08/21/08 2:32pm

Collett, Here is ACLU information.
Michael J. Steinberg, Legal Director
American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan
60 West Hancock Street
Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 578-6814
fax (313) 578-6811

Collette

08/21/08 9:42pm

To the mother of Elizabeth, I am the mother who called you when both our girls were in jail the night they were arrested. Your attorney did much more for your daughter than mine did. Can I please have his name? Thank you

Lochgelly

08/22/08 8:30am

The Gestopo hates due process.

NickT

08/22/08 10:55pm

Lets put people on house arrest for things we’re not even sure they did woohoo!!!
East Lansing makes me sick

Bongajon

08/22/08 11:32pm

Yes! Victors for breasts and wigs everywhere!




PHOTOS OF THE WEEK:More reprints »
Josh Radtke / The State News

Senior linebacker Brandon Denson holds up the Paul Bunyan Trophy after the Spartans defeated Michigan in overtime 26-20 Saturday afternoon at Spartan Stadium.

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