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Occupy Oakland Protester Sentenced To Six Months In Jail

OAKLAND (KCBS) – A 24-year-old Elk Grove man has been sentenced to six months in jail and five years probation and restitution for his part in an Occupy Oakland demonstration last fall.

Cesar Aguirre was found guilty last month of felony vandalism. He was found to have smashed a front display window at the police department's recruiting and internal affairs office near City Hall.

KCBS' Jeffrey Schaub Reports:

According to the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, evidence showed that he broke six windows and tried to forcibly gain entry into the office. Damage was estimated at more than $6,000.

Alameda County Deputy District Attorney Carrie Skolnick said it was a fair sentence and hopes it sends a message to Occupy protesters.

"It's unfair to the citizens of Oakland, which is already a city that, in some ways, is economically disadvantaged. And then to have people come from outside and trash the city with the taxpayers having to pick up the bill."

Aguirre's attorney, John Kaman, said he was a bit surprised by the sentence.

"I feel like it was a fair order. I expected a much harsher sentence," said Kaman.

Aguirre still claims he's innocent.

The protests in the early morning hours of November 3 followed a daylong general strike in Oakland. Thousands marched throughout the city on November 2 and the march included a shutdown of the Port of Oakland.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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