DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa anti-war protests, January-April 1971 | 1971-03-27 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Coed Convicted of Assault --'Pummeled ROTC Cadet'""

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University of Iowa anti-war protests, January-April 1971

1971-03-27 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""Coed Convicted of Assault --'Pummeled ROTC Cadet'""

P.C 3/27/71

Coed Convicted of Assault - 'Pummeled ROTC Cadet'
By MARK F. ROHNER
Of the Press-Citizen

A petite University of Iowa nursing student accused of "pummeling the midsection" of a ROTC cadet in a March 5 demonstration here, was convicted of assault in Police Court Friday. 
Police Judge Joseph Thornton found Konnie R. Kindle, 20, guilty of assaulting ROTC cadet Martin Kloubec after Lt. Kenneth Saylor of University Security testified that he saw the 100-pound coed beating a cadet while she was in the midst of a marching formation. 
Miss Kindle maintained she was frightened by the moving ranks and was only trying to escape.
Another officer, Sgt. Donald Wilson, said he saw Miss Kindle "right in the middle of the ranks a-beating each cadet on his chest."
"I don't know whether she was trying to get out or beat these poor fellas up," Wilson said. 
Wilson admitted it was "very possible" Miss Kindle was merely trying to get out of the ranks of marching cadets when he saw her. 
Miss Kindle said she was standing in the path of the cadets, her arms locked with other demonstrators, when the marching formation plowed into the line of protesters throwing her into the uniformed ranks. 
"All I could see were uniforms and rifle butts, which frightened me. I panicked and tried to get out," Miss Kindle recalled. 
She said she didn't intend to harm the cadets, adding "I have nothing against ROTC cadets personally."
She testified she didn't remember hitting or grabbing any cadets, recalling that she began crying when Saylor grabbed her from behind and slipped handcuffs around her wrists. 
While Miss Kindle was in the middle of the formation, a cadet swung a rifle butt at her, testified Lonn Kaduce, another demonstration. 
"I protested strongly whether that was the way ROTC were taught to treat women and children in Viet Nam," Kaduce said.
Kaduce said there was "contact made with a cadet" as Miss Kindle tried to regain her balance in the middle of the crowd. 
As Saylor was leading his 
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handcuffed prisoner away, he was "impeded" by "several" other demonstrators, the officer testified. 
Thornton found one of the, Elaine Johnson, 23, guilty of obstructing an officer. Saylor testified Mrs. Johnson "continually bumped me and impeded my progress, saying , 'you take her out of here and you'll be sorry,'"
Mrs. Johnson explained in testimony that when she saw Miss Kindle being taken into custody she left her 15-month-old son with her husband and caught up with Saylor and his prisoner. 
"She was crying. She has been grabbed from behind and handcuffed," Mrs. Johnson said. " I put my arms around her and I was trying to tell her it would be all right."
Miss Kindle said she thought Mrs. Johnson was trying "to comfort me," not impede Saylor. 
Thornton handed a third conviction to Gary A. Nelson, 21, for allegedly assaulting Wilson during the demonstration. 
Wilson testified that Nelson and another demonstrator "looked like they were going to jump on Saylor's and (Sgt. Merlyn) Mohr's backs. I said, "Take it easy fellows. Don't get yourselves in any trouble," grabbing each of them. 
Nelson "hit me a couple of time in the side and a couple of times in the head," Wilson said. 
Nelson said he didn't know who was grabbing him and pushed his arm against Wilson's chest as "a gesture of slight self-defense."
Thornton deferred sentencing until the three trials were completed, then asked defense attorney Joseph Johnston for presentencing arguments. 
Johnson asserted that the three were "convicted on the barest minimum of evidence," but Thornton imposed maximum sentences - $100 fines. 
The three were charged in connection with a demonstration protesting the presence of ROTC programs on campus. The protest occurred near the UI Recreation Building. 
John W. Johnson, a fourth student arrested in the protest and charged with "resisting execution of process," pleaded guilty last week to the lesser charge of obstructing an officer.

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P.C 3/27/71 Coed Convicted of Assault - 'Pummeled ROTC Cadet' By MARK F. ROHNER Of the Press-Citizen A petite University of Iowa nursing student accused of "pummeling the midsection" of a ROTC cadet in a March 5 demonstration here, was convicted of assault in Police Court Friday. Police Judge Joseph Thornton found Konnie R. Kindle, 20, guilty of assaulting ROTC cadet Martin Kloubec after Lt. Kenneth Saylor of University Security testified that he saw the 100-pound coed beating a cadet while she was in the midst of a marching formation. Miss Kindle maintained she was frightened by the moving ranks and was only trying to escape. Another officer, Sgt. Donald Wilson, said he saw Miss Kindle "right in the middle of the ranks a-beating each cadet on his chest." "I don't know whether she was trying to get out or beat these poor fellas up," Wilson said. Wilson admitted it was "very possible" Miss Kindle was merely trying to get out of the ranks of marching cadets when he saw her. Miss Kindle said she was standing in the path of the cadets, her arms locked with other demonstrators, when the marching formation plowed into the line of protesters throwing her into the uniformed ranks. "All I could see were uniforms and rifle butts, which frightened me. I panicked and tried to get out," Miss Kindle recalled. She said she didn't intend to harm the cadets, adding "I have nothing against ROTC cadets personally." She testified she didn't remember hitting or grabbing any cadets, recalling that she began crying when Saylor grabbed her from behind and slipped handcuffs around her wrists. While Miss Kindle was in the middle of the formation, a cadet swung a rifle butt at her, testified Lonn Kaduce, another demonstration. "I protested strongly whether that was the way ROTC were taught to treat women and children in Viet Nam," Kaduce said. Kaduce said there was "contact made with a cadet" as Miss Kindle tried to regain her balance in the middle of the crowd. As Saylor was leading his TRIAL Turn to Page 2A Trial From Page 1A handcuffed prisoner away, he was "impeded" by "several" other demonstrators, the officer testified. Thornton found one of the, Elaine Johnson, 23, guilty of obstructing an officer. Saylor testified Mrs. Johnson "continually bumped me and impeded my progress, saying , 'you take her out of here and you'll be sorry,'" Mrs. Johnson explained in testimony that when she saw Miss Kindle being taken into custody she left her 15-month-old son with her husband and caught up with Saylor and his prisoner. "She was crying. She has been grabbed from behind and handcuffed," Mrs. Johnson said. " I put my arms around her and I was trying to tell her it would be all right." Miss Kindle said she thought Mrs. Johnson was trying "to comfort me," not impede Saylor. Thornton handed a third conviction to Gary A. Nelson, 21, for allegedly assaulting Wilson during the demonstration. Wilson testified that Nelson and another demonstrator "looked like they were going to jump on Saylor's and (Sgt. Merlyn) Mohr's backs. I said, "Take it easy fellows. Don't get yourselves in any trouble," grabbing each of them. Nelson "hit me a couple of time in the side and a couple of times in the head," Wilson said. Nelson said he didn't know who was grabbing him and pushed his arm against Wilson's chest as "a gesture of slight self-defense." Thornton deferred sentencing until the three trials were completed, then asked defense attorney Joseph Johnston for presentencing arguments. Johnson asserted that the three were "convicted on the barest minimum of evidence," but Thornton imposed maximum sentences - $100 fines. The three were charged in connection with a demonstration protesting the presence of ROTC programs on campus. The protest occurred near the UI Recreation Building. John W. Johnson, a fourth student arrested in the protest and charged with "resisting execution of process," pleaded guilty last week to the lesser charge of obstructing an officer.