Court finds student guilty in riot trial
By Abby Lubbers (Last updated: 10/21/08 10:14pm)A construction management junior was found guilty Tuesday of disorderly conduct from hindering a police officer for his participation in April’s Cedar Fest riot.
Kurt E. Ryder, who pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor offense, was given a guilty verdict after less than one hour of the six-person jury’s deliberation in East Lansing’s 54-B District Court.
Assistant East Lansing City Attorney David Meyers said the case was pretty simple because Ryder faced one charge.
“This was a basic and simple disorderly (conduct),” Meyers said. “I really didn’t understand the fact that they were fighting it, but that’s their right to do that.”
Meyers’ main goal was to keep the case simple.
“This case, from both sides fit into the elements, and that’s why (Ryder) got the guilty verdict,” he said.
Defense attorney Steven Howard declined to comment about the case.
Originally Published: 10/21/08 9:23pm
Nicholas Christie
10/23/08 10:18amThis is unreasonable. There were many kids at Cedar Fest in 2007 Why does the one kid that did absolutely noting wrong get picked out of the crowd and fined. At least the jury could due is let him leave on minimum probation. This is the worst call that the City of East Lansing has ever had. Congrats look what our world has come to, a college kid cannot even go out anymore and have a good time. If he were guilty then thats one thing. If you are going to find someone guilty then why dont you make sure of it next time before you accuse someone that has done no harm