Activist Jenny O’Connell-Nowain says she’ll accept jail time for disrupting a public meeting
O’Connell-Nowain was convicted by a Shasta County jury about a month ago. Today, a county prosecutor recommended that she be placed on informal probation which would require her to agree to follow county meeting policies, something she was not willing to do.
Calling his client a sincere and honest person, defense attorney Michael Borges told a Shasta County judge today that Jenny O’Connell-Nowain was not willing to accept the terms of probation being offered to her because she doesn’t believe she can follow them.
The Honorable Judge Thomas L. Bender responded by asking whether O’Connell-Nowain, an activist who was convicted by a jury about a month ago for disrupting a public meeting, was aware that failing to accept her probation terms means she’ll be assigned the maximum jail sentence possible, a term of six months.
“I am,” she said.
The local woman was arrested last year in the Shasta County board chambers after she approached supervisors, briefly interrupting their conversation. When told to sit she did so, on the floor, while holding a political sign. Board Chair Kevin Crye called a recess and cleared the room, and she was arrested soon after in a darkened board chamber from which even members of the media had been ejected.
Her defense attorney told the jury that she had been silenced for her dissenting political viewpoint, explaining that the way meeting rules were enforced did not meet the demands of the law. A Shasta County prosecutor said her decision to break county rules had violated the rights of the public to hold a meeting without disruption. The jury sided with the prosecution, convicting O’Connell-Nowain of the misdemeanor crime of disrupting a public meeting. They did not reach an agreement on whether she had also delayed her arrest, another charge the county levied against her.
Today, attorney Borges told Judge Bender he was concerned about his client’s seizure condition, which could impact her health in jail, particularly if she does not receive her medications on a regular basis. Based on his experience with other incarcerated clients, Borges indicated, her likelihood of receiving her medication in jail will be increased by having a note from a doctor, something she has not yet obtained.
After hearing about complications related to her access to medical care, Judge Bender gave O’Connell-Nowain two weeks to find a doctor who could provide her a new prescription and a medical note to give to jail staff. She’ll return to the court on Jan. 28 at 9 a.m., at which time she’s likely to be officially sentenced and taken into custody.
Speaking to press after the hearing, O’Connell-Nowain said she’s willing to accept jail time because the terms of probation she was offered are likely to continue to restrict her First Amendment rights at board meetings, given how the county has been enforcing board room policies.
“My word is important to me, “ O’Connell-Nowain said.“I don’t feel I can honestly say I would accept a meeting where injustice is happening and I can’t stand up, I can’t say anything and I can’t do anything about it. It feels like it gives an unfair advantage to the board to prosecute when they feel it’s necessary, and I feel my freedom of speech is important to me and should be important to everyone that’s in this county.
“Anything that happens to one person can happen to anyone,” she continued. “I feel like it’s important to take my sentence and keep going … I’d rather go to jail than be told that I do not have freedom of speech.”
O’Connell-Nowain referred to her time in custody as another form of protest against the actions of current county leaders, saying she would also choose to view it as a “vacation” from the politically intense board meetings where she usually spends her time.
Pressed on whether she feels fear about the prospect of incarceration, especially given the unusual number of deaths that have occurred in the Shasta County Jail in the last year — a total of 5 — O’Connell-Nowain said she feels some fear, especially given her seizure disorder. She said she hopes to use her time in custody to learn more about the inner workings of the jail and what might be contributing to deaths there.
O’Connell-Nowain added that she plans to appeal her jury conviction based on some aspects of the case that her attorney believes were not adequately addressed by the judge during courtroom discussions mid-trial. She said she’s also considering filing a civil rights lawsuit against the county.
1.14.2026 12:47 pm: We’ve updated the story to correct the date of O’Connell-Nowain’s next hearing.
Do you have a correction to share? Email us: editor@shastascout.org.
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In the spirt of celebrating the National
birthday of a Nobel peace prize recipient on this Mon. Jan. 11. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr King said that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”.
This is right on time.
Jenny Nowain Comes Across, As Quite The Kook. Her And Her Husband Need To Leave Shasta County. We Don’t Want People Like You. Their Total Pot Stirrers. Their Looking For Money. They Want To Sue. They Want Go Fund Me Money. What Loser’s. Get A Job. Thieves.😮👍🤠
The comments knocking Jenny’s choices to stay her course with integrity are pretty obnoxious (whether you appreciate her point of view or not.) Jenny’s actions and choices are putting a spotlight on how broken our system is.
Kevin Crye has spent two years being dismissive and rude to people he doesn’t agree with (with no integrity). He has given his allies extra time to talk while HE interrupts people who don’t agree with him.
Kevin does not apply rules consistently. He has treated Jenny poorly in comparison to how he treats others and he is proud of it. I think this is a huge part of the valid argument being made.
Our system is so broken, she could actually do jail time for quietly protesting. WHAT?!!? Meanwhile we have people stealing $950 in groceries who can’t be arrested, but she was!
And protesters who destroy public and private property for “causes” they don’t even understand while people call them heroes. Jenny sat on the floor quietly with a sign and is intelligently making her best effort to use the 2nd Amendment. Pick on someone else.
Yes, Jenny O’Connelland ALL residents of this County, BUT, with all meeting procedures, there is a PROTOCOL, based on the historical precedence of Robert’s Rules of Order. This process is adopted and maintained for a smooth operation of all meetings, open or closed. Jenny began by being “Out of Order”. In order for your “Voice” to be heard, there is the speaking card procedure, if the floor was being opened for that…
Adults reportedly “Acting out like a child”, should be instructed on this process, requested to be seated, or to be removed, which sh was. Sad to say, but it is her decision and future.
Burney stands on business!
She has her right to free speech and so should everyone else speaking when she rudely interrupts. She’s a professional protester. She’s like a little child that doesn’t get her way. She’s completely disrespectful to every person that doesn’t agree with her! Therefore send her to jail. At least she’s honest.
“She’s a profession protester…” (aka Activist); she doesn’t get paid to protest. Agree or disagree with her tactics, at least she’s walking her talk.
::shoulder shrug::
$4,000+ in crowd funded donations suggest otherwise
It was proven in my arbitration that I lost my job because of interference from county officials. Having a gofundme to keep my family afloat was the last thing I ever wanted to do, but I had to. My reputation was damaged and I could not get employment outside of small contract one-offs. So, excuse me if I asked the community to voluntarily assist me with my fight against corruption. The alternative would have been to give up my fight and to leave the county. I am standing up for employees like myself. I don’t want to happen to them, what happened to me. You can fight, and you can win.
Mahmoud – Crowd funding after the fact is not at all the same as being paid up front to protest by any entity. You know that. Attempts to personally smear by suggesting ill intent is a pretty low bar – disappointing.