Federal court jurors in Tucson drew a line between harboring and help on Wednesday, when they acquitted border aid worker Scott Warren on felony charges for the assistance he gave to two Central American men last year.
The not guilty verdict came after just 2ƒ hours of deliberation, and it was greeted with cheering, laughter and tears from Warren’s supporters and fellow aid workers, including a contingent of clergy members from across the country.
“The government failed in its attempt to criminalize basic human kindness,” Warren told the crowd outside the downtown courthouse after it was over.
The volunteer for the Tucson-based humanitarian aid group No More Deaths was indicted on two felony harboring charges after authorities raided an Ajo migrant aid station known as the Barn in January 2018.
Warren was arrested along with two men who had crossed the border illegally, Honduran Jose Sacaria Goday, 21, and Salvadoran Kristian Perez Villa- nueva, 23.
In closing arguments Wednesday, defense lawyer Gregory Kuykendall said Warren only provided humanitarian aid to the men.
“Being a good Samaritan is not against the law. Practicing the golden rule is not a felony,” Kuykendall told the jury.