Becareful what you post on Facebook.... another story.

C-Note

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i saw this today on facebook after "liking" Super Streetbike Magazine:

[h=1]Sheriff: Facebook boast leads to arrest[/h] Share


The Associated Press
Published: Monday, Aug. 29, 2011 - 3:24 am

YAKIMA, Wash. -- A suspected reckless motorcycle rider has discovered the law's long arm now reaches into cyberspace.
The Yakima County Sheriff's office says they tracked the 19-year-old man down via Facebook.
Deputy Chris Gray says early Monday in a release that the incident began when a man on a motorcycle outran pursuing deputies late last week near Moxee, just east of Yakima.
Authorities later noticed a Facebook posting by a man boasting about eluding officers, as well as a photo on the page of a motorcycle similar to the one they sought.
Gray says that when the suspect was rousted at 4 a.m. Saturday by deputies with both a search warrant and a printout of the page, he acknowledged he was the rider.
The man, whose name was not released, has been charged with reckless driving and other infractions.


Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/29/3868728/sheriff-facebook-boast-leads-to.html#ixzz1WQctbmOC
 
LOL This thread should read "Don't be an idiot" rather than becareful what you post on Facebook. Sounds like this moron got exactly what he deserved.

Can you honestly say that you would tell anyone that you outran the cops? Seems like a bonehead move to begin with.

I like that they went in with their warrant at 04:00. Sounds like payback.
 
would it have even stuck in court if he simply said "i lied on facebook to look cool" or something like that? i mean there is really no hard evidence except for the "boasting" and the bike being "similar"

i don't know why he would confess.
 
Yeah I learned the hard way not to confess without speaking to your lawyer first. Bein nice doesn't help you out in the end at all. But then, I also wouldn't brag about running from the cops.
 
would it have even stuck in court if he simply said "i lied on facebook to look cool" or something like that? i mean there is really no hard evidence except for the "boasting" and the bike being "similar"

i don't know why he would confess.

He probably broke under pressure from the cops. Cops always make you feel like you're doing something wrong lol, even if you're innocent and they think you're a suspect.
 
This is why it is advised to completely lock down your Facebook profile. Have all images, status updates, whatevers, available only to friends, don't allow yourself to be found through Google or the Facebook search, try not to become members of a group, don't allow users to message you or send friend requests, and use a fake profile picture
 
Had he not confessed, the chances of conviction would have been pretty slim. Name, DOB, address and "I want to speak to a lawyer" are the only things you should say when being interrog.. I mean "interviewed" other than what your lawyer instructs you to say :cool:
 
Never write anything in Facebook (or Twitter or internet forums or anything else of the sort) that you wouldn't be willing to shout out in public.

If you're not willing to shout out in public "I just ran from the cops and got away", then don't make it public on the internet, either.
 
That guy did a few stupid things, but the worst was admitting to it being him...Might as well have got caught red handed if your just going to give yourself up before court like that...When your in that kind of trouble you have the right to remain silent, and the only thing you should say is "talk to my lawyer"
 
While Facebook post could have led the cops to him, nothing did more harm than his admittance of the criminal act.

You need to prove 100% that the person is guilty. His posts, nor his bike being similar would have been enough to prove that. A good lawyer could have introduced enough "reasonable doubt" to get him off on this charge based on the limited evidence presented here.

That being said, it would have been an expensive fight.
 
Its hard to say what really happened. Seeing as it is the US he should have been read his Miranda rights, which include the right to counsel. Regardless of whether he "confessed" or not, he would have been charged anyway. If they have enough for a warrant they have enough for a charge.

There are difficulties in admitting confessions in court if they were given prior to speaking with counsel. ( but there are differences in the US and Canada)

(Summary: For Canada, don't say anything, even if your assert your right to silence the police can continue to ask questions. You have to basically keep your mouth shut in the face of being asked questions. You have no right to be questioned with a lawyer present. If you do speak to the lawyer, they will tell you only one thing - "don't say anything". Thats really all duty counsel will tell you (and then go back to bed). Also, if you end up in a holding cell, don't say anything to the inmates beside you either.)

(Really Short Summary : Just STFU to ANYONE (this starts before the cops even show up by not posting it on facebook).

Asking for a lawyer really doesn't do that much.
 
 
I run police every time I'm on my bike......Its not really a secret !!!!!!
 
That guy did a few stupid things, but the worst was admitting to it being him...Might as well have got caught red handed if your just going to give yourself up before court like that...When your in that kind of trouble you have the right to remain silent, and the only thing you should say is "talk to my lawyer"

Yup. Dumb people are dumb. Dumb enough to commit the act in the first place ... dumb enough to brag about it on the interweb ... dumb enough to not shut up about it when questioned. The cops rely on this ...
 
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