Discussion: Friend Of Boston Marathon Bomber Convicted Of Lying To FBI

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Discussion for article #229402

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I’m sort of with the defense. Doesn’t seem like this kid was part of a conspiracy–just didn’t help with the investigation afterwards.

Being a stoner with a aversion to authority isn’t much of a threat to national security. I hope he gets a light sentence.

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I have a tough time with the idea that it’s a criminal offense just to lie to investigators. They certainly don’t hesitate for a second to lie to suspects, witnesses, or anyone else at their convenience. I don’t have a lot of sympathy for anyone involved in terrorism, even peripherally, but they can’t charge him with a crime so they get him for lying?

Aside from the fact that this kid’s life is now ruined for something I don’t even think should be illegal, this more than reinforces the idea that one should never talk to the police or other authorities. I’ve never committed a criminal offense (traffic laws aside), but I can’t envision a situation in which I’d speak so much as a word to police (or even more so federal authorities) in any circumstances. IMO the “us versus them” situation is worsening every day, and it must be having an effect on good law enforcement. They’ve done everything in their power to earn the distrust of ordinary citizens.

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Absurd. Just absurd, excessive, frightening.

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Three people died including an 8 year old boy and sixteen people lost limbs a fact these guys were aware of when they decided to hide evidence. You’re a lot more forgiving than I am.

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You all must have forgotten that the FBI was in pursuit of two mass bombers, who went on to kill a guard and someone else before being hunted down. This stoner didn’t do his duty to all of us…in fact he got in the way of the people trying to protect us.

Sometimes I want to join the GOP.

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Hychka–

I agreed until your last line non-sequitor. The GOP would not have helped investigate or prevent the bombing. If anything, their brand of anti-government rhetoric, often calling for violence against perceived enemies, probably led to an atmosphere that encouraged it.

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You want to join the GOP because you don’t agree with a few posters?!!

I agree with you, btw. This kid lied and withheld information. If he wasn’t convicted, what message does that send? That it is okay to obstruct an investigation?

And those that say he should be able to lie because the authorities lie? Does that mean it is okay to kill a police officer because they kill innocent people?

I don’t want to live in your world, sorry. However, I have absolutely no desire to join the GOP.

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How Confusion and Stupidity Become a Crime – Is technology making us smarter?

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I don’t at all trust the police. Not in the least. But if there was a situation where I could help the police catch a violent criminal, I would absolutely do my civic duty and help them. I’m not going to let a rapist, murderer, child predator, wife beaters, etc. get away with hurting people and go on to hurt more people because I don’t trust the police. Some things are bigger than ourselves.

In this case, these guys helped and aide and abet terrorists. They should go to jail. Many more people could’ve been hurt or killed behind their foolishness. It’s one thing to protect a friend from going to jail for, say, possessing some drugs, and quite another to protect a friend who has just killed three people and maimed 16 others.

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A couple of things to remember…

You’re not required to talk to law enforcement. You’re not required, in that wonderful British phrase, to “assist the police with their inquiries.” If they “invite” you down to the station to chat about something, you don’t have to go. If they have probable cause, they can arrest you. If not, you can tell them to have a nice day, and close the door.

If you are placed under arrest, invoke your right to remain silent until you’ve got an attorney present. It doesn’t matter how innocent you may be - just shut the fuck up.

Even if you want to help the police by volunteering information, but you’re in a situation in which you might be somehow connected to the criminal, it would be wise to say nothing until you’ve got an attorney with you. Granted, that’s difficult if you can’t afford an attorney, yet haven’t been placed under arrest (so you can’t get a public defender).

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He did more than lie to authorities; with the knowledge of what his ‘friend’ did killing 3 people, including an 8 years old and blowing the limbs off 16 others, he actively hid evidence.

I’ll agree that this is different in degree to actually participating in the act of terrorism itself, but he is hardly a victim here. And he undeniably participated after the fact. He’s very lucky he wasn’t charged with conspiracy after the fact.

I do hope the judge exercises some discretion on sentencing taking into account his age and his degree of culpability, but I’m not hopeful. 8 years is too long for what he did, much less 16.

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Very true. A lawyer friend once told me that once you are under arrest you should shut up because “you can only ever talk yourself into more trouble, never out of it.” But if you’re not in trouble and aren’t under arrest nor are you suspected of being involved, that’s a different story.

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It is always a crime to lie to the police or federal authorities, whether under arrest, or not. You either tell them the truth, or you tell them nothing. You have no obligation to cooperate and police can’t ‘take you into custody’ without charging you with a crime – never mind that they do this all the time. Any time you feel you are being detained by police, you should always be asking this simple question: Officer, am I free to go?

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This kid needs to feel lucky, that being found guilty of lying to the FBI is the only crime he was convicted of. He could have been convicted of aiding and abetting a felon, and on a federal level, with that felon being a bomber, that would have been much more serious of a conviction.

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I have no problem with a punishment for hiding evidence. But from what I understand, this guy had nothing to do with the bombing itself, or the planning of the bombing.

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In my opinion, he’s a traitor to the US, and should be given the death penalty. Actually, I could care less about some third world student. I’m more concerned about the next dim-witted “innocent,” who aids and abets a terrorist.

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Yeah I’m no fan of the authorities and I’m a committed friend as well as a stoner, but if one of my friends blew blew up a bunch of innocent people I wouldn’t be lying to the FBI about evidence.

I hope he gets a fair sentence,and I think it could be pretty harsh and still fair. This is not lying to the authorities to get out of being caught with a joint, something I would be a lot more forgiving of.

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One can see why the average citizen might be confused.

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If I could help catch a criminal, I’d cooperate with the police too. Starting the minute my lawyer got there. And I’m really, really sorry I feel that way. I didn’t always, but they’ve convinced me that no one will protect my interests but me.

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