California prosecutors announced on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, that felony charges against five former and current Stanford University students will be dismissed. The cases involve a June 2024 pro-Palestinian demonstration where protesters barricaded themselves inside the university president’s office. California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office stated it would drop the charges provided the defendants complete 100 hours of community service each and pay approximately $52,000 in combined restitution to the school.
The legal proceedings followed a June 5, 2024, incident in which 13 people were arrested after a group occupied the office of the Stanford president and provost. The university reported the building sustained extensive damage, and prosecutors alleged at least one suspect entered by breaking a window. During the occupation, protesters renamed the building "Dr. Adnan's Office" in memory of Adnan Al-Bursh, a Palestinian doctor who died in an Israeli prison.
A judge declared a mistrial for these five defendants on Feb. 13, 2026, after a three-week trial ended with a deadlocked jury. Jurors voted 8-4 in favor of conviction on felony vandalism and 9-3 for felony conspiracy to trespass. Following the mistrial, defense attorneys successfully argued to remove Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen's office from the case, leading the California Attorney General to take over the prosecution.
The dismissal affects five current and former Stanford students who were facing felony records. Under the agreement, they must collectively pay $52,000 and perform 100 hours of community service to avoid criminal conviction. The scale of the restitution reflects the university's report of "extensive" damage to the administrative building.
Nationwide, this case was among the most serious legal actions resulting from the 2024 pro-Palestinian protest movement, which saw more than 3,000 arrests across U.S. campuses. While seven other Stanford protesters previously accepted plea deals or diversion programs, these five individuals are among the last to resolve their criminal cases following a trial that initially failed to produce a verdict.
By agreeing to the dismissal, the state has opted for restitution over a retrial, which the local district attorney had initially sought. The defendants have already made full restitution according to their counsel, and the final dismissal of charges is contingent upon the documented completion of their assigned community service hours.
Avi Singh, a Santa Clara County deputy public defender, stated that the defendants have already made full restitution. If they meet the court-ordered conditions, the felony charges will be removed from their records.