By 5 Towns Central Staff

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (June 30, 2026) — A California man who pleaded guilty in connection with the 2023 death of pro-Israel demonstrator Paul Kessler hy”d has been sentenced to one year in county jail followed by two years of felony probation.

Loay Abdel Fattah Alnaji, of Moorpark, was sentenced this week after pleading guilty in May to felony battery causing serious bodily injury and involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors had sought a state prison sentence, arguing that the circumstances warranted a more severe punishment.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko expressed disappointment with the sentence, stating that Kessler’s death and its impact on his family justified a prison commitment.

The case stems from opposing pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations held on Nov. 5, 2023, in Thousand Oaks. During a confrontation between Alnaji and 69-year-old Paul Kessler, Alnaji struck Kessler with a megaphone, causing him to fall backward and suffer a fatal head injury after striking the pavement.

Medical testimony presented during earlier court proceedings concluded that Kessler died from blunt force trauma resulting from both the blow to his head and the subsequent fall.

Kessler was transported to a hospital following the incident but later succumbed to his injuries. His death drew national attention amid heightened tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas war and raised concerns about political violence at public demonstrations.

During sentencing, the court also considered victim impact statements submitted by Kessler’s family, including his widow.

Alnaji was arrested several days after the incident and remained the subject of a lengthy criminal prosecution that concluded with his guilty plea earlier this year. Prosecutors said they disagreed with the final sentence but acknowledged that the court had the authority to determine the appropriate punishment.