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By Lauren Bray, edhat staff
Santa Barbara County District Attorney announced today that a criminal complaint has been filed against James Gelb for disturbing the peace in relation to an altercation on State Street last week.
Dudley stated one count of Disturbing the Peace is in violation of California Penal Code section 415(3) and arose from the November 7th incident where Gelb “allegedly used offensive language which was likely to provoke an immediate violent reaction.”
Edhat previously reported that Gelb, a landlord who owns Isla Vista properties worth close to $80 million, verbally assaulted Isla Vista Community Service Director Board President Ethan Bertrand with homophobic hate speech on State Street.
Bertrand, who’s openly gay, expressed to Gelb that he treats his tenants poorly to which Gelb followed Bertrand down the street shouting aggressive and hateful homophobic slurs. Bertrand stated he feared for his personal safety and was traumatized for the rest of the evening. The altercation was captured on camera and sent to the Santa Barbara Police Department and District Attorney. The complete video can be viewed below.
Later that week, Gelb released a written statement to edhat explaining that he was provoked and he suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome. The full statement can be viewed below.
The case is set for arraignment on Monday, December 4, 2017 in Department 8 of the Santa Barbara Superior Court.
(Click here to view a larger version of the letter)
Past Articles
- November 9, 2017 – Landlord Verbally Assaults Isla Vista Official
Oh I see, you mean cops. Ok, well I’m not going down that road here.
Roger – then what “certain occupation” are you referring to? I’m not aware of any particular profession that allows for shooting people for merely saying words.
Shoe Salesmen.
Bertrand is such a hero for poking a hornet nest. Go Ethan! Go Ethan!
Gelb- Excuses will get you nowhere!
Cry us a river, but knowing you have the problem & being your age, you should know better by now than to “take the bait.”
Sorry, Mr. Moneybags, but no excuses needed. Pay the piper with the negative publicity & probable slap on the hands punishment you’ll receive. “Sad”
This guy is in for a whole world of hurt.. he may be pretty darn wealthy, but he is also pretty darn stupid! Rightfully so, his video will be distributed to every LGBTQ group in the country will have him in their cross hairs. Have you ever seen a cat play with a mouse?
Probation for a misdemeanor like this? Hahaha, no. Maybe a couple weekends of community service at best. This is a “nothing” crime.
Actually, this could even be charged as an infraction, like jay walking.
Penal Code – PEN
PART 1. OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS [25 – 680] ( Part 1 enacted 1872. )
TITLE 11. OF CRIMES AGAINST THE PUBLIC PEACE [403 – 420.1] ( Title 11 enacted 1872. )
415.
Any of the following persons shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not more than 90 days, a fine of not more than four hundred dollars ($400), or both such imprisonment and fine:
(1) Any person who unlawfully fights in a public place or challenges another person in a public place to fight.
(2) Any person who maliciously and willfully disturbs another person by loud and unreasonable noise.
(3) Any person who uses offensive words in a public place which are inherently likely to provoke an immediate violent reaction.
Ehhh, Bertrand started this and knew what would happen if he engaged in public with someone known for having a hot temper like Gelb. So, he was kind of “baited” in that sense. BUT, what Gelb said was horrible and sickening and he should never have said that, no excuses for that response!
Simmer down tiger….All I meant was if you know someone has a tendency to flip out and become enraged, and you poke the bear, then yeah, you’re kind of baiting it. BUT, AGAIN, it is no excuse for words like this. And besides, what is “calm and collected” about telling a landlord you are glad they are leaving (ie, selling their properties)? Telling someone you are glad they are leaving is not the nicest thing to say.
Asberger’s Shmashbergers! He’s got more like Tourette Syndrome with that mouth and inability to control himself.
Bertrand got exactly what he had planned: a video of someone he knew would lose it when provoked. These are happy times for Ethan…how shallow and how sad for all of us. One day he is going to look back and wish he had just kept walking by Gelb. Enjoy your fame Mr. Bertrand.
LOCALSONLY – I was not saying it was “out of line,” just saying it was not some “calm and collected” attempt at a conversation as someone here asserted. You don’t start a “calm and collected” conversation by telling someone you are glad they are leaving your neighborhood. Get it? Aside from that minutia, what Gelb responded with was despicable, but also probably anticipated.
Who believes Bertrand called Gelb a pedophile and a felon? NOBODY Mr. Gelb, I do believe you are also a LIAR!!
I read the letter. I wonder why the most revolting people bring god into the mix when justifying their disgusting behavior. Did god give him permission to be an A-hole?
90 Solid days in Jail that might cure his fibbing for a few minutes..No Excuse for that moving to Washington or anything Rich people should do time just like everyone else.