thank you for the great deed you did, whoever paid the bail, the kid was even able to see his family on the holiday's
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Jeremy Marks Bailed Out
Christmas miracle as Bay Area Google engineer pays $50,000 to spring student from jail
UPDATE: Jeremy Marks made it home Dec. 23. Photo of him outside jail, reuniting with his mom, is here.
Jeremy Marks
For eight months, Verdugo Hills High School student Jeremy Marks has been in a tough adult jail, facing years in prison for felony crimes he allegedly committed while videotaping a Los Angeles Unified School District police officer grappling with another student.
But now the 18-year-old is going home for Christmas, thanks to a Google engineer in San Francisco he’s never met, who this week paid Marks’ $50,000 bond.
L.A. Weekly first exposed the case in “Jeremy Marks ‘Attempted Lynching’ Case” (Dec. 9), about a teen waiting for a ride after school who used his cell phone to videotape Los Angeles School Police Department officer Erin Robles hitting a 15-year-old student.
Marks’ subsequent arrest ignited a firestorm of comments across the Weekly’s and other websites.
On Dec. 10, the Weekly received an e-mail from Google software engineer Neil Fraser asking for contact information for Marks’ parents.
Fraser wrote: “I am in a position to post bail for Jeremy so that he may spend Christmas with his family.”
Over the next few days, Fraser talked to many people working to assist with bail efforts for Marks. He tells the Weekly, “I’ve been in constant communication with lawyers, bail bondsmen, Jeremy’s mother, the press, banks and accountants — but the one person this is all about is completely isolated.”
Fraser explains, “When I was growing up, I spent several years in Germany — a country still traumatized by the Holocaust. One of the things I learned was that bad things can only happen if good people do nothing. I consider myself to be a good person, so I had no choice but to act when I saw something like this happening.”
Fraser also sent the family $1,500 for Marks’ defense attorney costs, which was matched by Google.
Marks is alleged to have called out “Kick her ass!” last May as he and other students watched Robles and an unnamed 15-year-old student physically grappling after the campus officer challenged the student for smoking a cigar or joint.
The incident unfolded at a Metro bus stop near Verdugo Hills High School as about 30 students were waiting to board.
Jeremy Marks was an onlooker who touched nobody. But prosecutors piled felony charges on him, including making a “criminal threat,” and claimed that he called out the gang name of the Piru Bloods. The unnamed 15-year-old, who actually did fight with the campus officer — who struck the minor with her baton and sprayed him with mace — was quickly released. But Marks has been held for eight months in the tough adult Pitchess Detention Center.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley’s prosecution team says that Marks’ alleged calling out “Kick her ass!” amounted to an “attempted lynching” — defined under the law as trying to “incite a riot during an attempt to free a suspect from police custody.”
But videos shot and posted to YouTube by other students with cell phone cameras show that Marks was one of the quieter kids watching the incident. (Click here to view videos.) Marks can be seen in the YouTube videos using his cell phone camera to tape Robles as she repeatedly pushed the uncooperative 15-year-old smoker against an MTA bus.
Marks’ bail was hiked to $155,000 by a Superior Court judge after Robles and campus police accused the student of belonging to a gang. A gang expert later brought in by Los Angeles County prosecutors, who relied on statements of two alleged gang members and a third “untested informant,” buttressed Robles’ claim by stating that Marks was affiliated with a gang. Both Marks and his mother deny it.
The bail figure was impossible for his mother, Rochelle Pittman, a part-time swimming pool attendant, to pay. She needed $15,500 for the bail fee, money that is lost once paid. (Click here for story about her fight to free Marks.) Fraser chose to put up far more — $50,000 — under an agreement in which the full amount is returned if Marks shows up for court dates.
Celes King IV, vice chairman of the Congress of Racial Equality of California, rejoiced as the collaborative effort to bring Marks home by Christmas came together. His longtime business, Celes King III Bail Bonds, working with Bail USA and Seneca Insurance Co. as well as Fraser and Marks’ family, reached a deal on Dec. 17 to free Marks.
However, Marks’ hoped-for release was delayed that day because of an error involving a juvenile probation hold that was supposed to have been removed from Marks’ file in an Aug. 11 court proceeding. Marks’ attorneys scurried to file an ex parte motion for removal of the “bail hold order.”
Mark Ravis, Marks’ attorney, says, “It took a while, but the juvenile judge was very understanding and agreed to release the bail hold.”
King says his agency will post the $155,000 bail and Marks will be home on Thursday, in time to spend Christmas with his family.
In the meantime, Fraser has gone shopping to make sure there are presents under the Christmas tree for Marks’ homecoming. His mother says two gifts have already arrived.
Reach the writer at katharine.russ@charter.net.
64 comments
Good to hear that he is out and getting much needed support !!! Why was he even arrested? I think a closer look into Erin Robles the officer on scene should be warranted. Such a waste of time and energy on the city to prosecute this case. I hope the preciding judge has some common sense and just dismisses this case for what it is, a waste of time.
Meanwhile the Governator commutes the sentence of Nunez's kid who was an accomplice in a killing. I'm guessing someone unconnected like Jeremy Marks will serve more time for a 'speech' crime than Nunez's kid will serve for a homicide.
That proves that there are still some good people in this world. A great thanks to all who helped this young man get back with his family for the holidays.
I'm so proud of all of the great people who decided to do something. Together we can all make a difference. Love and Peace to all.
IsaiahSan Pedro,CA
Carmen Trutanich is a hero for standing up for this kid. I don't think it's been reported here, but Jeremy is a Special Ed student who is struggling to get an education. I don't think he learned much of anything in the 7 months he was in prison without a trial. Trutanich has my vote, and the vote of the community for what he said. It's refreshing to see a politician speaking out without worrying about their political careers - when a poor kid needs help, he should be able to count on people in high places to offer help, not prison.
I am glad that Jeremy Marks got to spend Christmas with his family. Thanks to LA Weekly and his family for letting the truth be known. I noticed comments on other blogs about this case were the Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich was quoted as saying the DA has over charged this case. Most people would agree with that. What Jeremy did was wrong, a poor choice, but it's the kind of thing that kids do without really thinking of consequences they they did not intend. I hope the DA listens to what people are saying, including the City Attorney, and treat this case as a misdemeanor, not a felony.
I am not against the police, (or school police in this case), because I think they provide a necessary function in society. And the police NEED to be tough. But, I mean, come on, this underage kid is facing years in jail for SPEECH? OK. Some speech is inappropriate and there should be sanctions against it. But isn't free speech kind of what separates America from everywhere else? Yes, I would agree that what he is (alleged) to have said is wrong and should be sanctioned/punished, but put this underage boy in jail for YEARS for speech???? I don't agree with that and think it's waaaay too Draconian for California. They think stoning women for adultery in some Middle Eastern countries is just. Is putting this boy in prison for years in America for what he said just? If it is, then the first amendment just got a whole lot smaller. The punishment should fit the crime, and I don't think it does so here (and kudos to that Google engineer, and Google, by the way).
Not to disagree with what you are saying, but for clarification purposes, this "kid" was not "underage". He is 18. I was living on my own at that age. I agree that the punishment did not fit the crime, however I am not privy to his prior record (I believe he was on probation. Who knows, the judge last time may have said he would throw the book at him the next time he made a wrong choice). One way or the other, the truth will come out. I just really hope that Jeremy recognizes and appreciates the gift he has been given and gets his $hit together and concentrate on making better choices. A lot of people have stepped up for him, time for him to step up too.
This was not the Los Angeles Police Department, it was the Los Angeles School Police Department. It appears evident that the Los Angeles School Police Department officers need extensive training in the area of how to approach individuals and to assess a situation prior to the initiation of an arrest. One only has to view to video to see how the school police officer used excessive force. LAUSD is going to pay out a few thousand dollars to this young man and his family when this matter is completely resolved. Lets hope the new School Police Chief will ask that this female officer find a new job .
how is he not incident .he clearly didnt do anything to provoke the officer and i really hope justice can really be served for this young man ..AND DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS TOWARDS the arresting officer ...i personally know the case very well and this officer has a little background of her own idont want to get into it.but anywho it discusses me to see our judicial system failing we need to stopp taking futures away for pitty crimes and start working on trying to restore the future of this young men because many opportunity have been lost due to this incident,he now has to be worrying about fighting this case and worrying if hes going to prison for 7 years for holding a phone because he clearly didnt say anything on video and that better then a police writtin statement whos to believe video or wwords ..he should be preparing for his future , finishing off his school he has left as well as attend a college
I don't know if we have all the facts but how is it that the kid who actually attacked the officer is already out while this kid who, yeah, shouldn't have been stupid and claimed a gang and jumping on the bandwagon by making a stupid comment, but did not get physical with anyone is still in jail? Something's not right here...If the cops were trying to make an example out of this kid, lesson learned. He will not be claiming gangs or opening his mouth to say anything anymore.
Perhaps this poor young man has a SIGNIFANT prior criminal history, which cannot be disclosed because he is a minor... Maybe that explains the high bail and the fact that he is being tried as an adult. Of course, why would the newspaper want to delve into such details... It would only derail the reporters "woa is me, I'm the poor oppressed minority" narrative. A tired one at that.
The videos show Jeremy Marks said nothing. He didn't yell out anything about gangs, he was quiet. To sit in jail for 7 months is absolutely despicable.
No action you mentioned merited the exorbitant punishment given.
There is something wrong with your country, not your citizens.
I wish I was as smart as you guys and, like y'all, knew exactly what was happening based on: (1) a typically vague news story written by a fuzzy-thinking English major; (2) my own personal bigotry in favor of or against certain groups (street kids, rich people, etc.); and (3) the calculated likelihood of the Marks kid not jumping bail and costing the Google engineer the full $50K. If the kid does run, everyone trying to bask in the reflected glow of someone else's do-gooderism by claiming they knew the Inga-neer back when should also start running before being snagged for a contribution. Nothing more nasty than a disappointed do-gooder -- believe me, I know.
This is so pathetic. He's most likely affiliated by a gang,and also going by the evidence. The only reason why he's getting out is someone paid his bail to be nice for Christmas.
If you happned to have read the entire story you'd know that the COPS are making up charges and trying to hang this guy themselves so in the future you can't take pictures of them committing further abuse and crimes against the public.
Really? The evidence I have seen says otherwise. But then, I believe in innocent until proven guilty.
Why was Jeremy Marks in pre-trial detention for *eight months* in the first place? If I understand it correctly, California courts usually interpret Article 1, Section 15 as a guarantee of a trial within 60 days. Why is it taking so long to get these garbage charges to court? Is it possible to seek dismissal of these charges on the grounds that Marks's right to a speedy trial has been violated.
As in many big cities, they want you to cop out on the charge - even if it is bogus. It is about money, not justice. There are few rich men in jail or copping to a pea just to get out!
The patriot act changed the laws.. Don't forget they destroyed the evidence in his camera and charged him with trying to "Lynch" a cop -- does that ring of truth to you? Nothing about law enforcement is to be trusted any longer.
Article 1, Section 15 of the California Constitution mirrors the 6th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: "The defendant in a criminal cause has the right to a speedy public trial..."
Why was Jeremy Marks in pre-trial detention for *eight months* in the first place? If I understand it correctly, California courts usually interpret Article 1, Section 15 as a guarantee of a trial within 60 days. Why is it taking so long to get these garbage charges to court? Is it possible to seek dismissal of these charges on the grounds that Marks's right to a speedy trial has been violated.
this kid and his mama just wanna get paid....plain and simple.
he could have been before a judge a looooong time ago but naw, he after that dolla!
If the facts of the case are that he only filmed the incident (which seems to be the case) what this means is that the LAPD don't want to be filmed and will charge you with anything to stop you. By charging him with several felonies, the message the LAPD is sending is, "We know we can't arrest you for practicing your first amendment rights, but we will find something to charge you with."
Depending on how the judge feels about filming police officers it wouldn't surprise me in the least if they threw out all the video evidence as inadmissible. Then it's the word of a police officer against the word of a black teenager. I know that sounds racist, but with all the gangs in LA, and most of them consisting of black members, that's how he will be viewed.
Good luck Jeremy Marks. You are fighting for all of us to be able to continue practicing our first amendment rights.
Man, Steve Cooley is a serious asshole. I'm glad he went down in flames in November. I couldn't imagine a guy who is that big of an asshole being the AG of California.
Yes, because Kamala Harris is a paragon of virtue and benevolence towards law-abiding citizens, and would never persecute someone for attempting to hold her own tyrannical government accountable. /sarcasm
Kudos to Neil Fraser. LAPD should rethink their excessive tactics when dealing with the public. Especially if there are youth involved and their current Gestapo-esque methods don't seem to be working too well. Personally, I probably would have beat this officer's ass and gone to jail in his place.
what are you thinking. What does LAPD have to do with this. The article said that it was the school police. Hater.
My what an inconsequential point you have there. The training received by most university police is frequently handled by members of that city's PD which makes them absolutely NO different from the city force with which they must frequently interact. Hater indeed. If you've ever witnessed the abuses and general use of unnecessary (and sometimes lethal) force which is rapidly becoming the norm in most large city police departments, you'd think a lot differently.
do you even know what a school police is?
Its the person on the police force that no one wants to work with/can't be trusted with real police work
that doesn't make them any less a member of the LAPD
Actually, Peanut is correct, it does make them NOT a member of the LAPD. The LASPD are a dedicated unit who are not affiliated with LAPD, other than they are LEOs within Los Angeles...nice to know that you do your research before trying to flame...internet anonymous guest.
Neil Fraser is an amazing human being to do this for a complete stranger. I read this story a while back too and even though I felt for Jeremy Marks I didn't do anything besides hope that things turned out well for him. Fraser stepped up and actually did something. Hopefully this good karma comes back a thousand fold for him.
The rest of California is lucky that Cooley isn't AG. He's awful and the lynching charge is a bunch of bullshit. Way to go Neil.
Thank you LAWeekly for posting stories like this. It is important for our democracy to have many good sources of news, among which you are one.
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