Banana peel thrower says Chappelle insulted him at police station

[TexasTowelie]

The Santa Fe man who is going to trial for throwing a banana peel at black comic Dave Chappelle says the comedian confronted him at the police station after the show, accused him of being a racist and hurled profanities at him and his mother.

Christian Englander, 31, the self-described eccentric and performance artist who threw the peel during a March performance by Chappelle at the Lensic Performing Arts Center, is charged with battery and disturbing the peace — petty misdemeanors that each carry a jail sentence of up to six months and a possible fine of $500.

Jury selection in the case is set for Sept. 23, but Englander said Monday that he would like to arrange a plea deal.

The case has taken on racial overtones and attracted widespread attention on social media sites because Chappelle accused Englander of committing a racist act by throwing the banana peel at him while he was onstage.

Read more and see photos of Englander at link:
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/banana-peel-thrower-says-chappelle-insulted-him-at-police-station/article_86364d82-28f2-5d36-b8e7-176ba144b8fb.html

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. This brings up something I always found weird about the justice system.

Multiple charges (and penalties) for the same act. He only through one banana peel, but because there are different laws that cover that act, he gets his own mini 'double jeopardy' of getting penalized in two ways for the same act.

Why not try them on all applicable charges, then merely apply the higher penalty and drop the penalty for other charges that simply apply to the same act?

[TexasTowelie]

2. A strategy commonly applied by the DA's office

is for them to offer a plea bargain arrangement to the lesser of the two charges. The DA's office does not then have to go to the trouble and expense of preparing a case on both charges and the defendant benefits from the plea bargain as well.

[Hoppy]

3. The man is clearly not a racist. Just look at the linked photo.

Some of his best attorneys are black.

[virtualobserver]

4. this sounds like a publicity stunt from a low-rent wannabee "artist"

utilizing a known racist symbolic act against a popular star.