‘Bike Lock Professor’ Gets Probation After Four Felony Counts of Assault With a Deadly Weapon

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Aug 10, 2018

A former college professor from the Bay Area took a plea deal and received probation after being arrested on four counts of felony assault with a deadly weapon stemming from his actions at an Antifa rally in April.

“According to Alameda County Superior Court records, Clanton entered a “no contest” plea Wednesday to one misdemeanor battery charge,” wrote Berkleyside. “The felony charges against him were dismissed, and an allegation that he had caused serious bodily injury was stricken. A misdemeanor charge that Clanton wore a mask during the commission of the crime also was dropped.”

Eric Clanton, former philosophy professor at Diablo Valley College allegedly struck seven people with a bike lock wrapped in a sock at right wing free speech rally that turned violent when Antifa protestors showed up. The rally took place at UC Berkeley.

Users on 4chan identified the black-clad  Clanton using YouTube footage from attack, leading to his arrest.

“Police wrote that they had found evidence last year during a search of Clanton’s home in San Leandro linking him to “Anti-Fascists and Anarchy political groups,” according to court papers,” the piece said. “He was not home when police arrived, so officers moved to a second address in West Oakland where they said they found flags, patches and pamphlets “associating Clanton” with antifa and anarchist groups. Investigators arrested Clanton there.”

Items found in Clanton’s home included U-locks, sunglasses, a glove, jeans, and facial coverings which he allegedly wore during the April 15 melee.

“It wasn’t the first time Clanton had been arrested in connection with East Bay demonstrations, police said last year. On Jan. 9, 2014, the California Highway Patrol in Oakland arrested him at Highway 24 and Interstate 980 during a Black Lives Matter protest on suspicion of committing a “public nuisance,” and “willfully and maliciously” blocking a street, sidewalk or other public place. Both are misdemeanors. Police reported no charges in that case, however, or any prior convictions.”