Marin DA Reaches Agreement With 5 Charged In 2020 Vandalism Case

SAN RAFAEL, CA — Five people arrested after a Catholic statue was vandalized during an October 2020 protest at Saint Raphael Catholic Church had their case resolved this week under a restorative justice agreement with the district attorney's office.

Prosecutors filed felony vandalism charges against the defendants after a statue honoring controversial 18th-century Franciscan priest Father Serra was destroyed on Oct. 12. Under an agreement announced Thursday, each of the defendants will see their felonies reduced to misdemeanors. The DA's office said it reached the resolution following a comprehensive review and lengthy discussions with church members, the defendants, and the community.

"It is the District Attorney's Office's goal to achieve a fair result on all cases, and I strongly believe justice was served on this one," said Lori Frugoli, the Marin County DA. "While this issue has raised emotions because of the sensitivity around religion, community boundaries, and historic inequities, the fact is that a resolution through accountability has been reached through restorative justice and that is a victory for this community."

According to the DA, in addition to the misdemeanor charges, each of the defendants also agreed to:

• Pay monetary restitution, an amount determined by the Marin County Probation Department, to the church for the repair or replacement of the statue.
• Complete 50 hours of volunteer work.
• Apologize in writing as part of the official court record.
• Participate in a community forum to be held in the coming months with a credible historian who will give stakeholders a chance to have a meaningful dialogue about the issue.
• Stay off the church property.