A Cal State Channel Islands professor who was arrested during an immigration raid at a Camarillo cannabis farm was indicted Wednesday by a Los Angeles grand jury for allegedly throwing a tear gas canister at federal agents.
Jonathan Caravello, 37, a U.S. citizen and a lecturer in CSUCI’s math department, is charged with one count of assault on a federal officer using a deadly or dangerous weapon, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Caravello, who is free on $15,000 bond, is expected to be arraigned in the coming weeks.
According to the first superseding indictment and previously filed documents, on July 10, federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Border Patrol executed a massive raid at the Glass House Farms cannabis operation, which sits on a 160-acre property.
Prosecutors said a group of protesters gathered near law enforcement personnel around the farm’s entrance and used their bodies and vehicles to impede law enforcement from exiting the location.
Later, protesters allegedly became violent, throwing rocks at government vehicles attempting to depart the location because of the danger and to provide security to a detainee who had been hospitalized. The thrown rocks broke windows and side-view mirrors, among other damage to the vehicles, court papers show.
For agents’ safety, law enforcement deployed tear gas among the protesters to assist with crowd control. When Border Patrol agents rolled tear gas canisters by protesters’ feet, Caravello ran up to one of the canisters and attempted to kick it, federal prosecutors allege.
After canisters rolled past him, Caravello allegedly turned around, ran towards a canister, picked it up, and threw it overhand back at Border Patrol agents.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office contends that as immigration agents attempted to arrest Caravello, he continuously kicked his legs and refused to give agents his arms.
If convicted, Caravello would face up to 20 years in federal prison, prosecutors noted.
CSUCI previously released a statement on Caravello’s arrest, saying the university was “currently gathering additional information to fully understand the circumstances of the incident.”
The statement said, “At this time, it is our understanding that Professor Caravello was peacefully participating in a protest — an act protected under the First Amendment and a right guaranteed to all Americans. If confirmed, we stand with elected officials and community leaders calling for his immediate release.
“The California State University remains committed to the principles of free expression, academic freedom, and due process, and will continue to monitor the situation closely.”