Scott Daniel Warren is the humanitarian aid worker and Arizona State University professor who was put on trial after being arrested by the Trump administration for providing water and aid to migrants traversing the dangerous Arizona desert. He faced up to 20 years in jail but was freed in June after a mistrial ruling in his case. Eight of the 12 jurors wanted to acquit Warren on all three charges Arizona prosecutors had pushed. A mistrial is not an acquittal, and Arizona prosecutors are scary crazy. It was reported on Tuesday that, while they were dropping one of the three charges, Tucson, Arizona, prosecutors would continue to pursue two charges of “harboring illegal aliens” against Warren.
According to CNN, prosecutors “unexpectedly offered a plea bargain to Warren” on Tuesday that would drop the two charges in exchange for a guilty plea on the misdemeanor charge of “aiding and abetting illegal entry without inspection.” Whether Warren will take the plea deal remains to be seen. Warren’s lawyer says that the deal is open for 10 days and that it is up to his client to consider what action he wants to take. If Warren decided to go back to court, the trial would begin in November. Warren told reporters during his previous trial that one of the biggest drawbacks to his arrest was not being able to continue the humanitarian aid he was helping to provide to people in need.
Warren released a statement saying, “While I do not know what the government has hoped to accomplish here, I do know what the effect of all this has been. A raising of public consciousness. A greater awareness of the humanitarian crisis in the borderland. More volunteers who want to stand in solidarity with migrants. Local residents stiffened in their resistance to border walls and the militarization of our communities. And a flood of water into the desert at a time when it is most needed."
If you want to help you, can go here and donate to organizations working, like Warren, to save lives and families at our southern border.