PHOENIX — Two members of a Turning Point USA video crew have been charged in connection with a campus confrontation Oct. 11 with a queer instructor at Arizona State University.
Court documents obtained by 12News show TPUSA personality Kalen D'Almeida was charged Nov. 29 with criminal misdemeanor counts of harassment, assault and disorderly conduct.
Videographer Braden Joel Ellis was charged with misdemeanor harassment.
The maximum sentence for each charge is six months in jail.
Phoenix-based Turning Point USA has become a national voice in the culture wars permeating right-wing politics.
Video shot for TPUSA showed personality D'Almeida peppering instructor David Boyles with questions about his sexuality as Boyles walked toward a campus garage.
Boyles had told D'Almeida he didn't want to answer D'Almeida's questions.
"You can't run. It's best if you just talk to me on why you want to push sodomy to young people," D'Almeida said as Boyles continued walking away.
Boyles is a founder of Drag Story Hour. He teaches writing and a course on "LGBTQ+ youth in pop culture and politics."
As the group approached the Fulton Garage on the Tempe campus, ASU security video showed Boyles appearing to reach for the videographer. Boyles was then shoved to the ground by D'Almeida.
Boyles appeared to hit his head on the stone plaza. He later posted a Facebook image showing a cut on his face.
D'Almeida and Ellis are scheduled to make initial court appearances on Jan. 2.
RELATED: ASU president goes on offensive against Turning Point USA in case of professor's harassment
Turning Point spokesman Andrew Kolvet sent this statement to 12News:
"Kalen and his cameraman did absolutely nothing wrong. We will vigorously defend them and look forward to taking this into a courtroom where the very clear video evidence documenting this incident will quickly prevail over ASU's gaslighting and the media's propaganda. Our team members will be vindicated."
After he learned of the confrontation, ASU President Michael Crow labeled the TPUSA crew "cowards."
"Let me assure all of you that ASU will do all that we can to end the bullying and intimidation of our faculty members by Turning Point USA and to reduce threats against the members of the ASU community which arise from such actions," Crow said.
"It is stunning for Turning Point USA leadership to endorse, defend and fund such activity in the name of 'freedom.'"
NOTE: An earlier version of this story provided an incorrect name for the TPUSA videographer, based on the indictment cover sheet. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office has confirmed to 12News that the name on the indictment was incorrect. New charges will be filed with the correct name, Braden Joel Ellis.
