Citizen-Times: “Grand jury indicts 16 people charged with felony littering in Asheville’s Aston Park”

 Sarah Honosky writes: “All 16 people charged by the Asheville Police Department with felony littering have been indicted by a Buncombe County grand jury, moving a case North Carolina attorneys have called “rare” and “unusual” to Buncombe County Superior Court. 

Pip Flickinger and other defendants are charged following December protests calling for sanctuary camping at Aston Park.

“It is extremely bizarre to think about going to a full trial because of seven Little Caesars pizzas, which is like my role in this whole thing,” Flickinger said.” Read the full article here.

Asheville City Council Candidate Nina Tovish commented:

“These cases are moving forward. This indictment just confirms the old saw, that a prosecutor can get a grand jury to ‘indict a ham sandwich.’

These cases are a misuse of prosecutorial discretion, and I guarantee that they are going to ultimately be an embarrassment to all who are pursuing them. Look for the national headlines to follow.”