JUDGE DISMISSES GRAND JURY INDICTMENT AGAINST UC DAVIS EGGHEAD VANDALS OVER DISTRICT ATTORNEY OBJECTION

Press Release |Press Release Announcing Charges 5-29-24

(Woodland, CA) - October 20, 2025 - On October 14, 2024, the Honorable Sonia Cortés of the Yolo County Superior Court dismissed a grand jury indictment against defendants Nathan Orr, (32), Lysandra Dasilva (32), and Cheyenne Xiong (22), all from Davis.

The indictment alleged that on May 24, 2024, conspirators Mr. Orr, Ms. Dasilva, and Ms. Xiong spray painted UC Davis' famed Egghead statues, as well as many other buildings and signs, as part of a coordinated vandalism attack across the campus. The vandals' messages criticized the Israel-Palestine conflict and UC Davis leadership.

UC Davis Police Department officers captured Ms. Dasilva and Ms. Xiong fleeing the scene of the crime. The crimes resulted in over $4,200 in damages. UC Davis police forwarded the case to the District Attorney's Office and requested formal charges.

On July 19, 2024, a criminal Grand Jury of Yolo County citizens indicted Mr. Orr, Ms. Dasilva, and Ms. Xiong on charges of Felony Vandalism and Felony Conspiracy; both Ms. Dasilva and Ms. Xiong were additionally indicted on misdemeanor charges of Resisting, Obstructing, or Delaying a Peace Officer.

On October 14, 2025, Judge Sonia Cortes dismissed the indictment against all defendants, over the objections of the DA, citing their willingness to pay restitution, their lack of criminal record, and 12 hours of community service they had each voluntarily completed.

In addition, an official representative from UC Davis indicated that community service, that included an understanding of efforts undertaken to maintain the statutes, would be beneficial, and that the University did not object to a resolution to the case that fell outside the criminal justice system.

The District Attorney's Office consistently opposed the judge's decision to dismiss the case, arguing that it was an illegal court diversion.

District Attorney Jeff Reisig said:

"The judge's decision to entirely dismiss the felony indictment of the Grand Jury was unprecedented in my experience. Judges are not generally authorized to unilaterally divert criminals indicted by the Grand Jury. We believe that Judge Cortes' decision was improper. Moreover, the decision by the official UC Davis representative to recommend against a criminal conviction flies in the face of their original request and referral for criminal prosecution and creates a dangerous precedent for future cases of such conduct, suggesting similar criminal behavior at UC Davis will be treated with kid gloves. This outcome is not good for public safety in our communities."

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