Ron Paul Campaign Leader Pleads Not Guilty to Caucus Trespassing Charge

pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to charge of trespassing at the .

Stafford, a prominent supporter of Republican presidential candidate Ron Pau was arrested by after the caucus was disbanded. At the time of the arrest, St. Peters Police said two people—Stafford and Kenneth Suitter—were arrested for trespassing after receiving numerous warnings to leave the school property. Both subjects were transported to where they were booked for trespassing and released on a summons.

Stafford, 45, from O'Fallon, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he did nothing wrong and and wanted the charges dropped. He said he should not have been arrested after the caucus ended. 

The first caucus on St. Patrick's Day, at , went unfinished after a disagreement between rival candidate supporters. A dispute arose over the use of recording devices and to regain control. 

After the meeting was shut down, Stafford . He said a two-thirds majority was needed to close the meeting, and there was nowhere close to that vote.

“Nobody seemed to understand or have any will to follow Roberts Rules of Order,” Stafford told Patch after the arrest.

Stafford tried to reconvene the meeting inside the gymnasium, however, police asked him to leave so he went outside to the parking lot.

“The majority of the people in the caucus wanted me as chairman,” Stafford told Patch. “I was the only one who seemed to have any idea of how to reconvene a meeting. I was trying to get some business done.”

Stafford stood on a chair in the parking lot in attempt to reconvene the meeting there.  

“I guess I was visible since I was standing on a chair. I was told to leave the gymnasium, and I did,” he told Patch. “I was never told to leave the parking lot. I wasn’t trying to incite a riot. I was trying to reconvene a meeting.”

The other man arrested, Suitter, of St. Charles County, also was charged with trespassing. His initial court appearance is set for July 31.