LEBANON — Two Dartmouth students found guilty of criminal trespassing in January were each sentenced to 20 hours of community service and a possible fine in Lebanon District Court Tuesday afternoon. 

Dartmouth senior Roan Wade and sophomore Kevin Engel were arrested during a protest outside of a Dartmouth College administration building in October 2023. 

Last month, Lebanon Circuit Court Judge Michael Mace found them guilty of criminal trespass, a Class B misdemeanor. The crime carried a possible fine of up to $1,200, but no possibility of jail time.

On Tuesday, Mace sentenced each student to complete 20 hours of community service at Listen Community Services, as well as a $310 fine. The fines are suspended on the condition that they maintain good behavior for one year. 

“I hope that once you have either continued work or work for the first time with the Listen Center, you’ll know that the sort of compassion you bring to this sort of cause could be very easily brought to bear locally,” Mace said.

The two students were arrested in the early morning hours of Oct. 28, 2023, after they refused to leave a tent they erected in front of Parkhurst Hall. The tent was part of their protest against Israel’s military operation in Gaza and the college’s investment in companies that profit from the war or support Israel. 

Before receiving their sentence, Engel, Wade and their attorney Kira Kelley took the opportunity to address the students’ reasons for protesting for the benefit of Mace and about 40 people in the audience. Many attendees were Dartmouth community members who organized to “Pack the Court” in support of the students, according to an Instagram post from Dartmouth Alumni for Palestine. 

“I want to be clear on (Engel and Wade’s) behalf that we're not asking for this context to influence your sentencing decision,” Kelley said to Mace about their comments on the war in Gaza. Instead, she said, she hoped it would encourage people to reflect on how they engage with the conflict. 

Kelley, a lawyer at the Climate Defense Project in Minneapolis, represented the students pro bono. She is originally from Hartland and graduated from Hanover High School in 2011.

In statements to Mace, both Engel and Wade accepted responsibility for the crime and said they would take whatever punishment he issued, while emphasizing that they stand by their actions. 

“When I recall what compelled me into action and will continue to do so, my mind is clear -- it was the people of Palestine,” Engel said.

Wade also emphasized that they will accept their punishment while continuing to organize around the war and Dartmouth’s investment in Israel.  

“Our actions may be criticized and condemned, but ultimately, the only opinion that matters to us is those of our peers in Gaza, and they have told us to keep going,” Wade said. 

Wade then produced a photo of Dartmouth accepted student Omar Rasheed who is currently in Gaza holding a sign that said: “Dartmouth students, your voice was heard in Gaza. Keep going you’re making a change.”

Before delivering the sentence, Mace referenced a police body camera video of Engel and Wade’s arrest, which he described as “very respectful” and “among the most gentle I’ve witnessed.”

He also noted that the “acceptance of responsibility is something we don’t see often, so it’s something I appreciate.”
Mace also said he wanted to treat Engel and Wade equally to other Upper Valley residents tried in Lebanon District Court. 

Prosecutor Mariana Pastore requested that Mace issue fines to the students, and noted that she did not think community service was a reasonable punishment.

“I don't hear any indication that there's any plan in the future to put an end to the breaking of the law,” Pastore said after Engel and Wade read their statements to Mace. 

After the hearing, the students said that they think the sentence is reasonable, and that they have both volunteered with Listen in the past.  

“I would rather be fined and found guilty for taking action than live with the guilt and complicity of inaction,” Engel said after the hearing. “For me, that's a much bigger burden to bear than 20 hours of community service.”

Wade and Engel were the first students arrested in pro-Palestinian protests at Dartmouth following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel. They were later joined by 89 others arrested in a large May 1 protest on the Dartmouth Green that drew a massive statewide police response. 

Kelley is also representing the only two May 1 protesters set to go to trial. Proceedings for Upper Valley residents Christian Harris and Julianne Borger, who have both pleaded not guilty, were set to start Tuesday but were postponed and have not yet been rescheduled. 

Clare Shanahan can be reached at cshanahan@vnews.com or 603-727-3216.