A Santa Rosa Occupy protester arrested outside Wells Fargo Bank last weekend will be occupying a jail cell for about the next six months.

Cory Lynch, 23, was in the first wave of protesters to run afoul of the law in mostly peaceful demonstrations that began Oct. 15 at City Hall and have included marches around downtown.

On Saturday, Lynch, who is homeless, went into Wells Fargo’s B Street branch with other protesters to urge customers to close their accounts.

Lynch walked out when asked by a manager but then got into a tug-of-war over the front door as the manager attempted to lock it.

He was arrested along with two others and charged with misdemeanor disturbing the peace, delaying an officer and wearing a mask – a bandana — during the commission of a public offense.

He pleaded guilty Wednesday to a single count of disturbing the peace and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.

But he won’t be getting out any time soon.

Lynch was convicted of stealing from a Home Depot store in October. At the time, execution of six-month sentence was stayed.

With the new offense, Lynch will have to do the time.

“It’s what a lot of marginally homeless people have to do to get by,” said his lawyer, Barry McBride. “He had to steal to survive. He got involved with the protests because it was something to do and something he gravitated toward.”

Lynch is likely to miss the remainder of the Occupy protests, which could end before Christmas.

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