Boonsin allegedly incited destructive behavior by shaking a stop sign on the evening of the MSU football team’s win over Ohio State. East Lansing City Attorney Thomas Yeadon said other students ripped the stop sign out of the ground after he let go.
“We look at this conduct differently,” Yeadon said. “He inspired the crowd to take down the sign.”
When reached by phone Wednesday, Boonsin said he was an MSU student at the time of his arrest but has since transferred to Washtenaw Community College for financial reasons.
He declined to comment further until his legal proceedings are over.
In the meantime, Boosin’s friends are speaking out on his behalf.
Neuroscience junior Herve Nonga, who said he has known Boonsin for more than a year, said it is “ridiculous” and unnecessary that his friend is facing jail time.
“What was described is not indicative of the kind of person he is,” Nonga said. “He’s a really nice kid who has a good head on his shoulders.”
Nonga said he doesn’t think the city putting people in jail for the civil disturbance will quell people causing trouble following sporting events.
“You’re talking about one kid out of 50,000-plus,” he said. “Maybe he won’t do it again, but he’s less than a fraction of the people involved who didn’t get caught.”
Yeadon said the 45-day jail sentence would include a work leave, allowing Boonsin to leave for class or work, something that also has been a part of other deals with students who face jail time.
In December 2013 , students took to the streets of East Lansing following the football team’s win against Ohio State, burning couches and uprooting street signs.
The majority of the activity was in Cedar Village, but the East Lansing Fire Department was called to nearly 60 fires across town. A total of 27 people have been arrested in connection with the night’s events .
Although East Lansing police Capt. Jeff Murphy said most of the students arrested could face jail time by the maximum penalty of law, most of those arrested have faced only a fine for less serious crimes.
East Lansing City Manager George Lahanas said the city stands behind the decision to pursue possible jail time.
“Any people who were furthering this event we look at more seriously,” he said.
Lahanas also said there shouldn’t be a significant distinction drawn between those facing jail time and those who are not.
“I think we have to be careful about not making too light of the passive participants,” he said. “We will be prosecuting people to a much further extent if they participate in an event like this in the future.”
With the NCAA basketball tournament beginning Thursday, Lahanas said there are no excuses for students to behave the way that some of them did following the football team’s Big Ten championship win.
“We are expecting people to behave well and in a civil manner,” he said. “We are prepared if people choose to not behave in that manner.”
