University Of Washington: 33 Charged in IEB Occupation, Trespass Counts Filed
The King County Prosecutor’s Office has charged 33 people with criminal trespass connected to last year’s occupation of the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building at the university of washington, a move that stops short of charging anyone with vandalism or felony property destruction. The filing comes more than 300 days after the May 2025 occupation and sets arraignments for March 25 (ET).
University Of Washington charges and prosecutors’ rationale
Prosecutors filed gross misdemeanor trespass charges for 33 named defendants, asserting they either entered or knowingly remained in the building unlawfully. Officials cited officer observations and body-worn camera footage as the foundation for the trespass allegations, and the office said it lacked admissible evidence tying specific defendants to the physical damage inside the building that would support felony filings.
university of washington evidence gaps and damage
University officials had accused the group that called itself “Super UW” of breaking into the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building, spray-painting the interior and damaging new equipment. Prosecutors noted an absence of security cameras inside the building as a key limitation in proving who caused the damage, and investigators described a theory that different participants may have played distinct roles during the incident.
Public statements linked the occupation with roughly $1 million in damage. Prosecutors said they could not show for each defendant that they entered with intent to commit crimes against property or persons or that they personally caused the physical damage; without that link, felony charges were not filed. The trespass offense carries potential penalties of up to one year in jail and significant fines.
Arraignments, named defendants and next steps
Arraignments are scheduled for March 25 (ET). Charging documents list the 33 people who were arrested in the building and face gross misdemeanor trespassing charges: Tayler Hart; Max Rulff; Zachary Wallaced-Wells; Jade Wu; Jessica Schutz; Luisa Ortega Subdiaz; Ginger Newberry; Kimaya Mahajan; Gina Liu; Lea Keating; Akira Junyaprusert; Anna Hattle; Julia Fraczek; Cade Jackson; Jonas Piper; Ty Park; Lucy Zern; Tasbeet Iman; Ricardo Colon-Galvez; Roberta Collison; Ella Tunduwani; Zainab Chattha; Riley Centerwall; Catherine Brown; Brett Anton; Claire Berger; Yasmin Ahmed; Yafate Yared; Geneveve Konijisky; Finn Brown; Bailey Keen; Lucas Nichols-Mcauslan; Sam Sueoka.
Prosecutors said they offered occupiers opportunities to leave the building; they contend those arrested did not do so. Officials also described reviewing body-worn camera footage and officer observations as part of the decision to pursue misdemeanor trespass charges rather than more serious counts.
Context from organizers and university ties
The group that claimed responsibility framed the takeover as a protest over the university’s relationship with Boeing, demanding that the university cease receiving funding or influence from Boeing, return past donations and bar company executives and employees from teaching or influencing curriculum. The university’s historical ties to Boeing were noted in public commentary tied to the takeover.
- Number charged: 33 individuals face gross misdemeanor trespass counts.
- Estimated damage: roughly $1 million reported for damage to the building.
- Next court date: arraignments scheduled for March 25 (ET).
Prosecutors framed their filings as evidence-driven: if admissible proof emerges linking specific defendants to the property destruction, the office said it would consider additional charges. For now, the filings focus on unlawful entry and remaining in the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building while leaving questions about who caused the physical damage unresolved pending further evidence and court proceedings.
