One of the four students arrested at OU Student Senate appears ready to fight his charge in court.
Two days after he was arrested after protesting at a Wednesday night meeting of Ohio University Student Senate, Maxwell Peltz has hired Cleveland attorneys to represent him in court.
Peltz, 20, pleaded not guilty in Athens County Municipal Court Thursday morning to disturbing a lawful meeting, a fourth-degree misdemeanor.
The maximum punishment for that offense is up to 30 days in jail and a $250 fine.
Peltz — and the other three OU students arrested Wednesday night, including the president of Bobcats for Israel — have pre-trial hearings set for the morning of Sept. 24. The other three students also pleaded innocent.
He will be represented by attorneys from Cleveland-based law firm Zukerman Daiker & Lear Co., LPA, according to a release from the firm Friday afternoon.
The release condemns the students' arrests and maintains OU "hid behind the First Amendment as a shield to protect" OU Student Senate president Megan Marzec.
"This situation is not only appalling, but also truly concerning for those students who wish to exercise their First Amendment rights and speak out against terror and oppression," the release states.
Lawyers appear to be prepared for a trial to fight Peltz's misdemeanor charge.
The firm's release says attorneys will "vigorously challenge this abuse of process and secure the freedom of our client" and "will not sit back and witness this blatant abuse of power unfold to punish our Jewish brothers and sisters."
The firm could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon.
@SamuelHHoward
sh335311@ohio.edu
