Community College Staffer Arrested for Allegedly Stealing Conservative Speaker’s Notes

University of Connecticut Police Department via AP
University of Connecticut Police Department via AP
Tom Ciccotta

Catherine Gregory, a student advisor at Quinebaug Valley Community College, was arrested for larceny over an altercation with conservative commentator Lucian Wintrich that took place in November.

In a video that went viral, Gregory was seen allegedly stealing notes away from Wintrich during his controversial “It’s Okay to Be White” lecture at the University of Connecticut that took place on November 28. After she took them from the podium, Wintrich took it upon himself to get them back, confronting Gregory physically before retrieving his notes. Wintrich was criticized on social media for his aggressive response and was arrested at the time of the incident on a breach of the peace charge. The state has since dropped the charge against Wintrich.

“I think it’s wonderful that finally the system corrected itself,” Wintrich said in a comment to a local Connecticut news outlet. “We don’t want to set a precedent where people can walk up to speeches they find disagreeable and steal them. I mean that’s really not what America is about.”

Wintrich’s lawyer, Norman Pattis, explained that Gregory was arrested over the weekend and charged with sixth-degree larceny, criminal attempt, and disorderly conduct. She was put on leave by Quinebaug Valley Community College at the end of November.

“I’m happy to report that the young woman who stole my client’s notes has been arrested by way of a warrant over the weekend,” Pattis explained. “We will be asking the court to impose some brief period of incarceration in this case.”

Pattis went on to argue that the court’s decision is a victory for the First Amendment. “Free speech matters,” Pattis argued. “It’s ok to be white, black, brown or anything in between. My client came to Connecticut and was treated like a criminal for no reason. He sought to obtain his notes back when they were stolen by reasonable means. The prosecution saw that.”

Gregory is scheduled to face a judge for her actions on Wednesday.

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