Costa Mesa spent $32,000 prosecuting Acosta case

Prosecuting a criminal case against student activist Benito Acosta cost the city of Costa Mesa roughly $32,000, according to information from City Attorney Kimberly Hall Barlow.

Acosta was arrested at a Jan. 3, 2006, City Council meeting after protesting a plan to train city police for immigration enforcement. Orange County Superior Court Judge Kelly MacEachern dismissed the case Oct. 1 after learning City Prosecutor Dan Peelman had not been sworn in as a public prosecutor before filing the misdemeanor charges.

The council talked about the case behind closed doors Tuesday.

Barlow said the criminal case could be appealed to the state Supreme Court.

— Alicia Robinson