Deanna West, a woman involved in a group charged with setting a cross on fire in front of a defaced campaign sign for Colorado Springs’ first Black mayor, pleaded guilty to being part of a conspiracy in Denver federal court. The incident, which occurred in 2023, was described as a hoax by authorities. West agreed to participate in the conspiracy in exchange for the dropping of an additional charge related to setting the fire. The goal of the conspiracy was to interfere in Mayor Yemi Mobolade’s opponent’s campaign and create the belief that Mobolade was being discouraged from running because of his race. West, who was dependent on one of the other individuals charged, participated to curry favor with him.
The lawyers for the other individuals charged argued that the actions were a form of political theater and therefore protected by the First Amendment. They claimed that no one was threatened by the cross burning as it was done in the middle of the night and only witnessed by the defendants. The indictment revealed communication between Bernard and Mobolade both before and after the incident, with Bernard indicating he was mobilizing a group in defense of Mobolade.
Mobolade denied any involvement in or knowledge of the crime, and provided communications and information to investigators willingly. A city spokesperson referred to a video statement where Mobolade stated that he knew Bernard as a “local media personality” and showed a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice naming him as a victim or potential victim in the investigation.
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