Two years ago a Fresno man pepper sprayed pro-Palestinian protesters and was charged with a hate crime.
Monday, that man took a plea deal and will avoid all jail time.
The backstory: In May 2021 video emerged of Brian Lee Turner getting into a confrontation with protesters near River Park in north Fresno.
- Video showed Turner in his car at a stoplight when he used pepper spray on three protesters who were holding a Palestinian flag in the car stopped next to his.
- One of the protesters had gotten out of the car and had moved toward Turner before he used the pepper spray.
- Turner was arrested and charged with a hate crime by the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office.
The big picture: The felony charge and hate crime enhancement against Turner were dismissed. He pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor count of illegal use of tear gas.
- Turner was sentenced to 40 hours of community service, and the case will be dismissed in six months if he complies with the sentencing.
