He faces assault charges, spent a night in jail and Saturday night, Damien Nichols celebrated his freedom on bail at a benefit concert in his name at the Calvert Inn on Route 1.

The former Students for Sensible Drug Policy president was arrested March 8 after he was charged with misdemeanor and felony assault and reckless endangerment charges when a student said Nichols, a 2006 graduate, cut him at the Thirsty Turtle this December.

An Upper Marlboro judge dropped Nichols’ felony charges at a preliminary hearing April 14, but he still faces up to 15 years in prison and owes more than $45,000 in legal fees.

At Saturday night’s benefit concert, three local bands played and a crowd of almost 70 people raised more than $600 to aid Nichols’ costs.

Lead guitarist Marc Shapiro of The Rez, one of the bands that performed Saturday, said he met Nichols three and a half years ago at an SSDP meeting. When he heard Nichols needed financial support, he said the three bands were more than willing to step up.

“Damien is a good friend of mine,” Shapiro, who has written for Diversions section of The Diamondback, said. “When we heard that Damien needed help, we knew we had to be here for him.”

Nichols was arrested by Prince George’s County Police in connection with a cutting at the Thirsty Turtle Dec. 30. According to charging documents, Nichols approached the victim, Sean Hammond, at the bar and accused him of stealing. The documents show Nichols then slashed Hammond three times with a pocket knife.

Hammond identified Nichols in a photo lineup of six potential suspects more than a month later.

Hammond could not be reached for comment. Nichols said his lawyer advised him not to talk to the press about the case.

Nichols’ friends organized a Facebook group of nearly 200 members called “Damien Didn’t Do It,” including updates about the case, a detailed list of Nichols’ financial damages and a wall of more than 30 posts from the group members regarding the situation.

“This is absolutely insane. The Damien I know wouldn’t hurt a fly. They couldn’t have pinned this on a wronger person!” one of the posts reads.

Steven Silverman, the creator of the group, said he met Nichols through his activist work at the university. He said he was “flabbergasted” when he first heard about the arrest.

“He’s one of the most benign souls I know,” said Silverman, who is executive director of the Flex Your Rights Foundation, a civil liberties education group in Washington. “It’s also ironic that someone who works to reform the harshest parts of the criminal justice system would get stuck with such outrageous false charges.”

Tom Angell, a friend of Nichols and a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, said he was very pleased with the turnout of the concert.

“Everyone who knows Damien knows he’s innocent,” Angell said. “Anytime you’re charged with a crime you didn’t commit, it’s stressful, but all his friends are here for him.”

Shapiro made sure to recognize Nichols while The Rez was performing. “Give it up for Damien Nichols!” Shapiro announced, to a roar of applause. “This night is all about him.”

Nichols will stand trial in Hyattsville July 18.

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