Judge grants dismissal motion filed by San Francisco Public Defender defense team
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 8, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT: PDR-MediaRelations@sfgov.org
**PRESS RELEASE**
SAN FRANCISCO — On March 27, a San Francisco court dismissed all charges against nudism activist Martin Moulton, 59, who was arrested after being choked by a park ranger during a January public vigil for Grateful Dead cofounder Bob Weir. Moulton, a longtime community activist and World Naked Bike Ride organizer, was attending the event at Civic Center Plaza on Jan. 17 with four other unclothed friends when several park rangers and SFPD officers approached them. The officers told the group they needed to put on clothes, leave, or be cited for public indecency.
Moulton declined to put on clothes, since on previous occasions at other permitted events in the city, he had legally been allowed to be nude. Moulton began to leave voluntarily and told one of the park rangers, “Do not touch me.” The ranger, Antoine Fisher, then reached out and grabbed Moulton by the neck and choked him. Moulton again tried to leave and spat in the direction of the officers, who were following several feet behind him. Claiming they were hit by saliva, multiple officers then ran toward Moulton, pulled him to the ground, and arrested him.
He was charged with battery on a police officer and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors. On March 27, a judge granted the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office’s motion to dismiss the charges.
“The park ranger’s choking of Mr. Moulton was dangerous and disturbing,” said Misdemeanor Attorney Madeline Walsh, who represented Moulton along with Deputy Public Defender Mark Goldstein.
“The rangers needlessly escalated and inflamed this situation,” Goldstein added. “Prosecutors should never have charged Mr. Moulton. We are grateful the court did the right thing and dismissed this case.”
Moulton, a Bay Area native and longtime community activist, is retired from a career in marketing and serves on the board of directors of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. In addition to many other community ties, Moulton attends and volunteers at a Quaker church in Berkeley.
“Mr. Moulton and his friends were attending a community event peacefully but were met with state violence,” said San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju. “I am proud that his defense team fully embodied our office’s missions to fiercely defend our clients, confront state violence and advocate for community power.”
The defense team for Moulton was led by Misdemeanor Attorney Madeline Walsh and Deputy Public Defender Mark Goldstein and included Senior Investigator Kathryn Williamson and Paralegal Michael Brown.
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