June 23: This is a landmark case. When Hamas invaded and massacred Israelis on October 7, 2023, the United States saw more than 12,000 anti-Israel protests in the following months. On November 5, 2023 — just 29 days later — Loay Alnaji, who had come from the Islamic Society of Simi Valley with other members, struck and killed 69-year-old Paul Kessler for the simple act of holding an Israeli flag at a “Justice for Palestine” protest in Thousand Oaks.
Paul Kessler holding the Israeli flag at the protest.
Just 29 days after the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre, the Islamic Society of Simi Valley — from an area with too few Jews to annoy locally — deliberately returned to the more Jewish neighborhood of Thousand Oaks where they antagonized residents and incited people against their Jewish neighbors. It was during that protest that Loay Alnaji struck Paul Kessler in the face with a megaphone. The coroner found welt marks on Kessler’s face consistent with the blow. Mr. Kessler fell, suffered fatal head trauma, and died the next day.
Loay Alnaji, carrying the bullhorn he used to strike Paul Kessler, accompanied by Nashat Mshaiel from the Islamic Society of Simi Valley.
The case saw numerous continuances both before and after the death of original presiding Judge Ryan Wright in September 2025. Following Wright’s death, the case was briefly handled by Supervising Judge Anthony Sabo. In March 2026, it was reassigned to Judge Derek Malan, who had previously served as a Deputy District Attorney in the Ventura County DA’s Office during the same period as defense attorney Ron Bamieh.
On May 5, 2026, Alnaji entered a guilty plea to involuntary manslaughter. According to his attorney Ron Bamieh, Judge Derek Malan offered the plea deal — up to 365 days in county jail plus 3 years formal probation — after several private meetings with the defense attorney alone. Bamieh told reporters that Judge Malan had characterized the killing as nothing more than “two old guys had a dispute and an accident happened.”
Private meetings between a judge and only one side in a criminal case are highly unusual and generally considered inappropriate under California judicial ethics rules. Canon 3B(7) strongly discourages ex parte communications — discussions about a pending case with only one party (in this instance, only the defense) while excluding the prosecutor and the victim’s family. Canon 3E further requires a judge to disqualify himself if there is a reasonable basis for the public to question his impartiality. Judge Malan’s own reported characterization of this killing as nothing more than “two old guys had a dispute and an accident happened” — made after multiple private meetings with only the defense attorney and over the strong objections of the District Attorney and the victim’s family — significantly heightens the appearance of potential bias or favoritism.
This approach bypassed normal protocol in which plea negotiations are conducted by the District Attorney with input from the victim’s family. The Ventura County DA’s office and Paul Kessler’s family strongly objected, yet their position was overruled. Sentencing is scheduled for June 25, 2026.
This is the predictable outcome of a system that has repeatedly refused to treat antisemitic violence with the seriousness it deserves.
Look at the clear pattern of antisemitic crimes inflicted on Jewish people in Los Angeles in recent years:
- UCLA Encampment (Spring 2024): Over 200 arrests, but the only two people actually prosecuted were Jewish pro-Israel counter-protesters.
- 2020 BLM attacks on Jewish stores (Beverly Blvd, Fairfax Blvd, Pico Blvd): Numerous Jewish-owned businesses were smashed, looted, and robbed, many with explicit antisemitic targeting. Virtually zero meaningful prosecutions or sentences.
- Adas Torah Synagogue riot (June 2024): Muslims rioted and battered Jews outside the synagogue. Zero reported prosecutions or sentences for the attackers.
Yet in Paul Kessler’s case — the first prominent killing of a Jewish-American by a Muslim anti-Israel demonstrator — it was not merely “an accident between two old guys.” The eyewitnesses tell a very different story.
Jon Oswaks (eyewitness, standing with Rabbi Mark Blazer): “They tried with me first… they stalked us before this happened… they had it out for you 100%. Paul was holding his cell phone when Alnaji punched him with a megaphone… it was shown in court that it wasn’t self-defense.”
Jump to 0:44 – Stop at 1:20
Hal Eisner, KTTV (2023): “Paul Kessler was murdered for the simple act of carrying an Israeli flag.” A student at the scene also reported hearing: “we need to kill you all… you’re not belonging here.”
Jump to 0:09 – Stop at 0:55
Rabbi Mark Blazer at the 1-year vigil (Nov 2024): “...on the anniversary of his murder we're calling on the DA in Ventura County... to make sure that those who perpetrated this act of hate, this act of violence are brought to Justice. It’s incumbent on our community to exercise Justice, to practice mercy and Justice, to help create peace, to help create shalom.”
Jump to 0:00 – Stop at 0:25
Dor Shachar (Gaza-raised, now Jewish): “Muhammad came with the Quran… he slaughtered children, cut off their heads… exactly what he did on October 7… The Jew and the Nazarene — cut him into tiny pieces… The Jews in Gaza gave them money and treated them in hospitals… and on October 7 they slaughtered them.”
Jump to 0:25 • 1:12 (“cut the Jew into tiny pieces”) • 2:45 (Gaza betrayal) – Stop at 3:01
Rabbi Zvi Block (sitting with Jonathan Oswaks): “One man in a rage picked up an instrument and struck another man, and that striking caused his death… Our judicial system is insane if it gives only four years. This man should sit many years. This is a model case for Muslims across the world to see what Jews will do and what the court will do. I want 500 Jews in front of that courthouse on the sentencing day. Let the media take notice.”
Never Again is not a slogan — it is a command. If we allow this targeted killing of a Jewish man holding an Israeli flag to be reduced to a mere “accident,” with the killer potentially serving only a tiny fraction of an already lenient sentence while he continues to collect a paycheck, we betray Paul Kessler and send a clear message that Jewish lives are disposable.
Paul Kessler’s blood cries out from the ground in Thousand Oaks. Let it not cry in vain.
Where to Write This Week
| Priority | Where to Send | Why It Matters | Contact Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest | Presiding Judge of the Ventura County Superior Court | Can review how Judge Malan was assigned to the case and the appropriateness of the private meetings with defense attorney Ron Bamieh |
Ventura County Superior Court 800 South Victoria Avenue Ventura, CA 93009 Attn: Presiding Judge |
| High | Ventura County Probation Agency | They prepare the Pre-Sentence Report that Judge Malan will rely on when deciding the actual jail time |
Phone: (805) 654-2106 → Online Contact Form |
| Medium | Hon. Derek Malan (via Court Clerk) | Letters are placed in the official court file before sentencing |
Ventura County Superior Court 800 South Victoria Avenue Ventura, CA 93009 Re: People v. Loay Abdel Fattah Alnaji |
| Medium | California Commission on Judicial Performance | Official state agency that investigates judicial misconduct and conflicts of interest | File online: cjp.ca.gov |
| Lower | Ventura County District Attorney’s Office | Limited influence now that the plea deal has already been accepted |
Phone: (805) 654-2500 → Online Contact Form |
Note:
Because sentencing is scheduled for TuesPday, June 30 at 9am, letters sent this week will have limited but still symbolic value for influencing the final sentence.
However, letters requesting an investigation to the Presiding Judge have value even after the sentencing. They create a public record, pressure for transparency on the process, and can prompt a review of the judicial assignment and private meetings.
Sample Letter to Presiding Judge Guasco – Request for Review
[Your Full Name] [Your Address] [City, State, ZIP] [Email] [Phone] [Date] Hon. Matthew P. Guasco, Presiding Judge Ventura County Superior Court 800 South Victoria Avenue Ventura, CA 93009 Re: People v. Loay Abdel Fattah Alnaji – Request for Review of Judicial Assignment and Conduct Dear Presiding Judge Guasco, I am writing regarding the handling of the above high-profile case. Judge Derek Malan and defense attorney Ron Bamieh previously served as Deputy District Attorneys in the Ventura County DA’s Office during overlapping periods. After Bamieh entered private practice, Judge Malan was assigned to this case. It has been reported that Judge Malan held several private meetings with Mr. Bamieh alone before offering a lenient plea deal over the objections of the District Attorney and the victim’s family. These circumstances raise a reasonable question about impartiality under Canon 3E of the California Code of Judicial Ethics. I respectfully request that your office review the assignment of this case and the appropriateness of the private meetings. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Sincerely, [Your Full Name]
Sample Letter to Judge Malan – Demand Harsher Sentence
[Your Full Name] [Your Address] [City, State, ZIP] [Email] [Phone] [Date] Honorable Derek D. Malan Ventura County Superior Court 800 South Victoria Avenue Ventura, CA 93009 Re: People v. Loay Abdel Fattah Alnaji – Sentencing June 25, 2026 Dear Judge Malan, I am writing about the upcoming sentencing of Loay Alnaji in the killing of Paul Kessler. Paul Kessler was the first Jewish-American killed by a Muslim anti-Israel protester after October 7, 2023. Given the seriousness of this crime, I respectfully urge you to impose the maximum sentence possible under the plea agreement. A lenient outcome in this landmark case would send a dangerous message that attacks on Jewish Americans will not be treated seriously. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, [Your Full Name]
