Conspiracy charges filed against Muslim students

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A group of Muslim students accused of disrupting a speech by Israeli ambassador Michael Oren at the University of California, Irvine, were charged today with misdemeanor conspiracy counts, ending speculation about whether they would face criminal charges for their actions nearly a year ago.

The 11 students each face one count each of misdemeanor conspiracy to disturb a meeting and misdemeanor disturbance of a meeting, according to the Orange County district attorney's office. If convicted, they could face anything from probation and community service to six months in jail.

The students were arrested Feb. 8, 2010, after shouting and protesting during Oren's speech on U.S.-Israeli security, forcing the diplomat to stop his remarks for 20 minutes. Eight were from UC Irvine, and three were from the nearby campus of the University of California, Riverside.