LANCASTER, PA — A Lancaster city woman was sentenced Tuesday to 13 to 30 months in state prison after she was convicted by a jury in November of riot, criminal conspiracy, failure to disperse, disorderly conduct, obstruction of highways, and defiant trespass for her role in the riots at the Lancaster City Bureau of Police station on the night of Sept. 13 into Sept. 14.
Jessica Lopez, 34 of the 400 block of E. Marion Street, was sentenced by Lancaster County Judge Merrill Spahn on the charges that included two third-degree felonies, one second-degree misdemeanor, and three third-degree misdemeanors.
Multiple supporters of Lopez spoke on her behalf during the sentencing hearing and Judge Spahn stated “many of the speakers today raised a meritorious point that people can overcome their past.”
But Spahn proceeded by saying, “Prior record matters. This court cannot and will not overlook a prior record.”
First Deputy District Attorney Cody Wade prosecuted the case and noted Lopez’s significant prior record score. Wade mentioned a previous conviction of aggravated assault and a federal conviction of drug dealing as two of the multiple prior convictions on the defendant’s criminal record.
The minimum sentencing guideline with that prior record score was 9 to 16 months in state prison. Wade asked for a sentence at the higher end of the guideline range since the defendant did not take responsibility for her actions and thought of herself as a victim and political prisoner.
“I think what was presented was a straightforward case,” Wade said. “This is not a peaceful protest that happened to go wrong. The driver behind this regrettable night was Jessica Lopez.”
Defense counsel argued Lopez participated in a protest, didn’t tell anyone to damage anything or damage anything herself, and was being punished for her words rather than actions.
“The law is apolitical,” Judge Spahn said before ordering the sentence. “And with this judge, politics will not enter the conversation.”
Two additional defendants – Lee Wise, who identifies as Alexa Wise, and Taylor Enterline – were sentenced Tuesday for their roles in the 2020 riots.
Wise, 31 of Camp Hill, and Enterline, 23 of Manheim, were found guilty by jury of riot, failure to disperse, obstructing highways, and defiant trespass in Jan. 2023.
Both defendants received a sentence of three years of probation and must complete 125 hours of community service.
“As I’ve told the others today, I have no reason to question your intent,” Judge Spahn said to Wise, who was the final defendant to be sentenced. “Conversations about racial and social injustice are hard to have and have been that way in our society for a long time. In the summer of 2020 after George Floyd, the tensions were high. While the right to peacefully protest is protected by our constitution, peaceful protesting has never included violence and chaos.
“Lancaster City Bureau of Police did nothing wrong that night. Their response was professional.”
Lopez, Wise, and Enterline were three of 12 adults arrested following a protest that escalated to violence and destruction near the intersection of N. Prince and W. Chestnut Streets in Lancaster city following an officer-involved shooting on Sept. 13.
Lancaster County District Attorney Heather Adams later deemed that officer’s use of force to be justified on October 14, 2020.
A group of over 100 protestors gathered at an access ramp on the west side of the police station and continued to move up the ramp even after a public address system issued several warnings that chemical munitions would be deployed.
The group ignored the instructions and chemical munitions were deployed in an attempt to disperse the crowd. Members of the group threw the munitions back at Officers and tossed water bottles, glass, rocks, bricks, gallon jugs of liquids, and parts of plastic road barricades at the line of Officers holding at the top of the ramp.
An umbrella was lit and placed into a Lancaster County Detective vehicle causing a total loss, bricks broke glass at the Lancaster City Bureau of Police station and Lancaster city post office, and thrown bricks caused damage to a Lancaster Parking Authority vehicle.
A dumpster was then moved to the corner of N. Prince and W. Chestnut Streets and lit on fire by members of the group before finally dispersing.
First Deputy DA Wade prosecuted these cases with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Kyle Linardo. Lancaster City Bureau of Police Lieutenant Philip Berkheiser filed charges.
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