Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Texas Man Gets 30 Years in Prison for Transporting 'Anti-Government' Pamphlets

reason.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 38 posts

Re: Texas Man Gets 30 Years in Prison for Transporting 'Anti-Government' Pamphlets

#11

Post by Hugsbox »

gordian-mind wrote: post #3

This title by Reason seems unreasonable. The man was convicted of "tampering with evidence". In other circumstances, it would have been perfectly legal for him to transport these pamphlets. As it turns out, when someone (your wife) gets arrested and tells you to do "whatever you need to do" and "move whatever you need to move at the house", it is highly illegal to then proceed to do so.

I totally appreciate this point, but 30 years????

Convicted murderers often get lighter sentences

Re: Texas Man Gets 30 Years in Prison for Transporting 'Anti-Government' Pamphlets

#12

Post by benterix »

gordian-mind wrote: post #3

This title by Reason seems unreasonable. The man was convicted of "tampering with evidence". In other circumstances, it would have been perfectly legal for him to transport these pamphlets. As it turns out, when someone (your wife) gets arrested and tells you to do "whatever you need to do" and "move whatever you need to move at the house", it is highly illegal to then proceed to do so.

> As it turns out, when someone (your wife) gets arrested and tells you to do "whatever you need to do" and "move whatever you need to move at the house", it is highly illegal to then proceed to do so.

If it was my wife, I'd probably do my best to save her.

Re: Texas Man Gets 30 Years in Prison for Transporting 'Anti-Government' Pamphlets

#15

Post by floor2 »

rmunn wrote: post #4

[flagged]

What you are misleadingly calling "evidence" here is constitutionally protected free speech political materials. It's only "evidence" that he disagreed with the president on immigration, not anything related to a crime.

Take a step back and be honest about this situation, even if you dislike the people or disagree with their political views. This is an authoritarian attack on political opponents.

Everyone, regardless of political views or party affiliation should be outraged and horrified by this. This is the type of government violence against dissidents and opposition that we decry when it happens in other countries, and we shouldn't tolerate it here.

Re: Texas Man Gets 30 Years in Prison for Transporting 'Anti-Government' Pamphlets

#16

Post by sidewndr46 »

rmunn wrote: post #5
kashunstva wrote: post #2

The judge in these cases, Reed O’Connor of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas has a history of hard right decisions that are overturned on appeal. I don’t know what the options are for these protesters; but I imagine they stand a reasonable chance on appeal.

The indictment can be read at https://media.freedom.press/media/documents/gov.uscourts.txn... if you want to see the charges. And if the allegations about this being pre-planned (e.g., paragraphs 20 and 21 of the indictment) were supported by enough evidence to persuade the jury (and the jury was persuaded), then it's hard to see how they have a good chance of getting this overturned on appeal. Because unless I great…

Why in 2026 do these indictments have the lousiest black and white photographs ever? I've seen the high quality images in color from the government. Can they not be used during the grand jury process?

Re: Texas Man Gets 30 Years in Prison for Transporting 'Anti-Government' Pamphlets

#17

Post by gordian-mind »

Hugsbox wrote: post #11
gordian-mind wrote: post #3

This title by Reason seems unreasonable. The man was convicted of "tampering with evidence". In other circumstances, it would have been perfectly legal for him to transport these pamphlets. As it turns out, when someone (your wife) gets arrested and tells you to do "whatever you need to do" and "move whatever you need to move at the house", it is highly illegal to then proceed to do so.

I totally appreciate this point, but 30 years???? Convicted murderers often get lighter sentences

By tampering he becomes an accessory, which in some juridictions are punished on the same level as the principals. In this case, the principals have been convicted on terrorism charges.

Re: Texas Man Gets 30 Years in Prison for Transporting 'Anti-Government' Pamphlets

#18

Post by gordian-mind »

benterix wrote: post #12
gordian-mind wrote: post #3

This title by Reason seems unreasonable. The man was convicted of "tampering with evidence". In other circumstances, it would have been perfectly legal for him to transport these pamphlets. As it turns out, when someone (your wife) gets arrested and tells you to do "whatever you need to do" and "move whatever you need to move at the house", it is highly illegal to then proceed to do so.

> As it turns out, when someone (your wife) gets arrested and tells you to do "whatever you need to do" and "move whatever you need to move at the house", it is highly illegal to then proceed to do so. If it was my wife, I'd probably do my best to save her.

This didn't save his wife. You are free to help your wife in non-illegal ways.

Re: Texas Man Gets 30 Years in Prison for Transporting 'Anti-Government' Pamphlets

#19

Post by voxic11 »

gordian-mind wrote: post #17
Hugsbox wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I totally appreciate this point, but 30 years???? Convicted murderers often get lighter sentences

By tampering he becomes an accessory, which in some juridictions are punished on the same level as the principals. In this case, the principals have been convicted on terrorism charges.

fwiw he wasn't charged as an accessory in this case. He was charged with "corruptly concealing a document or record" and "conspiracy to conceal documents".

In fact federal law provides that accessorys can't be sentenced to more than 15 years if the principal crime is punishable by life imprisonment (like terrorism is).

> or if the principal is punishable by life imprisonment or death, the accessory shall be imprisoned not more than 15 years.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/3

Re: Texas Man Gets 30 Years in Prison for Transporting 'Anti-Government' Pamphlets

#20

Post by stvltvs »

Planktonne wrote: post #13

Regardless of the legal justification, this is clearly a miscarriage of justice , and evidence of extremely unequal enforcement.

People quibbling about the news coverage only normalizes the unjust sentences imposed on political opponents while the felonious president pardons loyal supporters. It's not normal, not acceptable.
Post reply on HN