The collective trials of Adrian Horien, Ron Teller, and Bob Braun

Epiphany, ano dominos 2009

 

 

Almost a year to the day of their arrests Bob Braun, Adrian Horien, and Ron Teller had their day in court.



They were arrested January 15, 2008 for allegedly “Blocking the sidewalk” while holding a sign in front of the courthouse. The defendants were picketing on behalf of Donna Holman.

 

On January 15, 2008, at a revocation hearing in Iowa City, Iowa Judge Karen Egerton ordered sheriff’s deputies to take Donna Holman to jail. Egerton ordered Donna Holman to get a psychiatric evaluation, and follow psychiatric advice (i.e. take prescribed meds).

 

Over 40 of Donna’s supporters came to the hearing in Iowa City, many more wrote letters on Donna’s behalf. Those in attendance were outraged as Mrs. Holman was handcuffed and escorted out of the courtroom.

 

Three men were arrested by the same 2 cops lying cops who framed Donna Holman. Adrian Horien and Ron Teller were randomly selected for “Blocking the Sidewalk”. Later, Bob Braun was also arrested for purportedly blocking the sidewalk. He was taken to the county jail with additional bogus charges of resisting arrest.

 

The 3 defendants decided on a joint bench trial. The presiding judge was Stephen Gerard. It is the first time I observed a judge wearing a purple robe. I wonder if he wears different colors for different days or for different moods? When the case was called the bailiff failed to mention Ron Teller’s name. This error was discovered after the trial started qualifying Ron to have his case dismissed.

 

The case proceeded against the other defendants:

 

The first officer to testify was Denise Brotherton. Brotherton’s brother Mike is also an Iowa City cop. Brotherton was one of the the fe-he male officers who set Donna up on the case she was incarcerated for last January. Brotherton testified that Adrian Horien “partially” blocked the sidewalk yet video evidence showed otherwise. Brotherton was caught in lie after lie in her cross-examination. Though in her cruiser she claimed she was “intimidated by our (manly) presence.

 

Next P.O. Chris Fowler testified that Bob Braun partially blocked the 8’ sidewalk at the end of the block. Fowler admitted there were no pedestrians present at the time (Another unsolved victim-less thought crime!).

 

Fowler and another officer testified that Bob Braun obstructed his arrest by causing interference and delays. They accused Bob of simple assault by trying to kick at one of the officers.

 

 

My, my this sounds serious!

 

But thank Al Gore for video cameras! The video showed a large 72 year old disabled man unable to fit in the back of a squad car handcuffed behind his back. The cops had to use two pair of handcuffs and wait for a paddy wagon. The patty wagon also had a small door making it difficult for Bob to get in. The video shows the officers lied when they testified under oath that Bob kicked at them.


Pictured below in front of the Johnson County Court House are Adrian Horien,
Ron Teller, Donna Holman, Bob Braun, and attorney Robert Anderson.

 

Judge Gerard did not make a decision, but said we should wait his written decision.

 

As it is with “justice delayed, justice denied” so it is with injustice. We are in no hurry for the verdict. I have never seen a decision come out of the Johnson County Courthouse which favored an antiabortion person.

 

The attorney, Bob Anderson, took these cases pro bono. Bob had a lucrative practice in Orange County California. His primary reason for becoming a lawyer was to defend people like ourselves. He decided to move to Iowa 2 years ago but found himself shut out by Iowa’s conservative elite. Turf wars are ever waged against the newcomer. “Why can’t we all just get along?” 

 

The county had unbelievable heavy security for this laughable mundane hearing. I would estimate the cost of this trial to the Johnson County taxpayers to easily exceed $20,000. It was not cheap for the defendants either; they had multiple appearances taking time off from work and traveling from Illinois and Wisconsin.

 

The defendants were not blocking the sidewalk; they were merely utilizing the sidewalk as all of us have a right to do. But pro-choice sentiments run deep in Iowa City; with three death camps, and a medical college, Iowa City is a baby-killing town.

 

dan & donna holman
Missionaries to the Pre-born, Iowa
P.O. Box 135
Keokuk, Iowa 52632
(319) 524-5587
 truthvan@yahoo.com


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