'Spokane 3' protesters convicted on federal conspiracy charges for blocking ICE transfer in Washington
SPOKANE, Wash. — A federal jury found three protesters guilty Thursday of conspiracy charges related to their efforts to block the transfer of two detained immigrants in Washington state last year.
The trio, known locally as the "Spokane 3," included Jac Archer, Justice Forral, and Bajun Mavalwalla II. They were convicted of conspiracy to obstruct federal officers carrying out Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. The protests occurred in June 2025 when the demonstrators attempted to prevent authorities from transporting the two detainees from Spokane to Tacoma.
The case stems from a social media call to action by Ben Stuckart, who was serving as a sponsor for one of the immigrants seeking asylum in the United States. Stuckart, a former Spokane City Council president, urged supporters to gather and block the transfer bus. Hundreds responded to his post, and the ensuing demonstration led to the arrests of Stuckart and nine other protesters.
Prosecutors argued the defendants conspired to impede the legal transport of the detainees. While Stuckart and five others accepted plea deals resulting in reduced sentences, the three who went to trial were convicted Thursday after a two-week proceeding.
Washington state Rep. Natasha Hill, a Democrat from Spokane, criticized Stuckart for his absence from the trial.
"You started this and you couldn't even show up to finish it," Hill said. "So I call on you, and I call on others to do what you said you were going to do, and stand up for your community because the fight is not over with this conviction."
Stuckart responded on Facebook, stating that attending the trial would have violated his parole terms. He expressed sympathy for those convicted and their families.
"I feel awful about the guilty verdict. I feel awful for Jac, Bajun and Justice and their families. I support those that took plea deals and I support those that went to trial," he wrote.
Stuckart also indicated he remains committed to the immigrants' cause, writing that he is "trying my best to finish what I started by taking care of the guys the government wrongfully took."
Bajun Mavalwalla Sr., father of one of the convicted protesters and a congressional candidate, condemned the prosecution's approach. He accused the government of attempting to make an example of the defendants to discourage Americans from challenging immigration enforcement policies.
"The right to protest, the right to dissent, the right to assemble — all of those things are now in question because of this case," Mavalwalla said. "In other cases across the country, the juries were not tainted and the cases have been thrown out."
The conviction marks one of the more significant outcomes in a series of protests against ICE operations that have occurred across the Pacific Northwest in recent years.