Man convicted for disrupting Teton County women’s march, free speech not at issue – East Idaho News

Driggs 0Updated at 3:23 pm, August 12th, 2017 By: Scott Stuntz, Teton Valley News We Matched

Courtesy Teton Valley News

DRIGGS One of the two men involved in a scuffle that disrupted an otherwise peaceful march for womens rights this January has been convicted by a jury of two misdemeanors.

Greg Geffner was convicted of misdemeanor obstructing a highway and misdemeanor disturbing the peace following a trial on July 28. He was sentenced to pay $803 in fines.

The judgment was withheld for the two charges meaning he wont serve jail time, but he will serve unsupervised probation. If Geffner fails to pay his fines during that time or is charged with new offenses he could be forced to serve the sentences for his original crimes.

RELATED: Teton Sheriffs Office investigating fight at Womens March

On Jan. 21 Geffner was in downtown Driggs during the local womens march. Hundreds of people joined the Driggs march, which was part of nationwide movement to promote civil rights, including womens rights.

While over 900 people attended, only two were involved in any sort of violence.

RELATED: Charges filed against two men after fight at Womens March

The confrontation was caught on several cell phone videos as well as by a drone flying overhead. Geffner was filmed standing in the roadway and then having a physical altercation with Scott Rehberg of Victor. Rehburg pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disturbing the peace in June. He will be sentenced in September.

Geffners defense centered on the first amendment, but the judge denied Geffners motion to have the charges thrown out because of his right to free speech.

Instead the jury only looked at whether he committed the crimes in question and found him guilty on both charges.

I think based on that were happy with the outcome and there was some accountability, said Deputy Prosecutor Lindsey Blake.

This article was originally published by the Teton Valley News. It is used here with permission.

The Teton Valley News in Driggs was founded in 1909 to cover events in eastern Idahos Teton Valley. This weekly newspaper is owned by Pioneer Newspapers and maintains a print circulation in Teton County, Idaho.

Contributed content is used on this site with permission and is owned by Teton Valley News.

Subscribe to the Teton Valley News' print or online edition by calling (208) 354-8101 or by visiting http://www.tetonvalleynews.net.

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Man convicted for disrupting Teton County women's march, free speech not at issue - East Idaho News