"Loay Abdel Fattah Alnaji, 53, was accused of hitting Paul Kessler on the head with a megaphone, causing him to fall and strike his head on the pavement at a protest in November 2023, according to the Ventura County district attorney's office. Alnaji had joined the protest in support of Palestine, while Kessler had attended as a counter-protester in support of Israel."
"On Tuesday, he reversed course, pleading guilty to felony involuntary manslaughter and felony battery causing serious bodily injury, prosecutors said. He also admitted to personally inflicting great bodily injury, using a weapon and that the victim was particularly vulnerable. The maximum sentence for his charges is four years in state prison."
"However, the court has indicated that, by changing his plea, Alnaji will likely be sentenced to probation with the possibility of up to 365 days in county jail, prosecutors said. In county jail, a person serves time locally, often with possibilities for work release, electronic monitoring or early release."
Loay Abdel Fattah Alnaji, 53, changed his plea to guilty in the November 2023 death of Paul Kessler, 69, who died after being struck on the head with a megaphone during a protest in Thousand Oaks. Alnaji, attending as a Palestine supporter, hit Kessler, a counter-protester supporting Israel, causing him to fall and strike his head on pavement. Initially pleading not guilty, Alnaji reversed course and admitted to felony involuntary manslaughter and felony battery causing serious bodily injury. While facing a maximum four-year sentence, the court indicated he will likely receive probation with up to 365 days in county jail. The district attorney's office and Jewish community members oppose this lenient sentencing recommendation.
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