ACLU attorney targets Mansoor

Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor spent hours on the stand Thursday as an ACLU attorney sought to show he engaged in “political prosecution” when the mayor ordered officers to escort a 26-year-old man from a City Council meeting last year after he criticized the mayor’s plan to train police in immigration enforcement.

During his testimony, Mansoor acknowledged he is an honorary member of the Minutemen Project, a pro-immigration-reform group.

“People give me honors. I simply say, ‘Thank you,’” Mansoor testified in the first day of the trial against Benito Acosta. “They wanted to make me an honorary Minutemen. I simply said, ‘Thank you.’ I don’t participate in any of their activities.”

Mansoor testified police escorted Acosta from the January 2006 meeting because he believed his continued protests would incite “property damage and assault” in City Hall.

He characterized Acosta as “disruptive” to the meeting.

The jury, comprising 11 women and one man, listened to Mansoor’s testimony for most of Thursday. Acosta leaned back his chair during portions of the proceedings, whispering occasionally to one of his attorneys.

Several of Mansoor’s friends and supporters were in the courtroom for most of the day.

Acosta’s American Civil Liberties Union-provided defense contends Minutemen Project co-founder Jim Gilchrist was allowed to speak without interruption at the Jan. 13, 2006, City Council meeting.

Gilchrist asked supporters to stand up in support of his speech at the meeting, but Mansoor did not object, according to a video the defense played in court.

The mayor later admonished Acosta during his pro-immigrant speech at the meeting for similarly asking his supporters to stand up, Acosta’s defense attorney B. Kwaku Duren brought out through the mayor’s testimony.

The video also showed Acosta asking his supporters to stand. Mansoor could be heard on the tape saying, “I will not allow it,” as Acosta shouted over the mayor, “do it, do it,” to the audience.

In testimony, Mansoor said Gilchrist’s supporters sat down before he had a chance to admonish Gilchrist. Mansoor also contended in testimony that Gilchrist’s group was not disruptive, but Acosta’s supporters were.

“They did not get loud or start shouting,” Mansoor testified.

In additional video presented by the prosecution, Acosta’s supporters could be seen shouting after Acosta’s removal from the meeting, with one woman on the tape shouting repeatedly, “You’re a racist.”

Pro-immigrant supporters at the meeting also sang portions of “We Shall Overcome” and “God Bless America” in council chambers after Mansoor had recessed the meeting.

Duren said Acosta was not allowed his allotted three minutes of speaking time at the meeting before he was asked by police officers to leave the podium.

Mansoor testified he recessed the meeting before Acosta’s speaking time was up to maintain order.

Protesters against the mayor’s plan were gathered outside of City Hall, and Acosta’s supporters stood and talked during the meeting, he said.

“I was looking at the volatility of the situation and trying to keep order in the council chambers,” Mansoor said.

The jury also heard the beginning of testimony from Costa Mesa Police Officer Dan Guth in the afternoon, who provided security for the meeting.

Guth testified Acosta had become agitated and refused to leave the podium after several Costa Mesa police officers asked him to exit the building.

“As he was talking, I could see that he had become more agitated,” Guth said. “He would seem to pause and get tense before continuing. People in the audience were starting to stand up and you could see it was a tense situation.”

Acosta said “don’t touch me” as police officers asked him to leave, Guth said.

Guth’s testimony is scheduled to continue at 9 a.m. today at Harbor Justice Center.

Acosta is charged with two counts of disorderliness by members of the audience at a council meeting and one count of violating propriety of conduct while addressing the council. He could face a maximum fine of $1,000 and six months in jail for each count if convicted.

BRIANNA BAILEY may be reached at (714) 966-4625 or at brianna.bailey@latimes.com.