By Carlos Miller
George Donnelly, the Pennsylvania videographer who was arrested last week for videotaping federal officers in front of an Allentown courthouse, is facing eight years in prison for his deed.
He is specifically being accused of striking one of the officers.
Anybody who has seen the two previous videos where Donnelly was confronted by federal officers in front of a courthouse will find these charges hard to believe.
After all, Donnelly has a tendency to remain courteous even when getting threatened with violence.
Nevertheless, the federal government is charging him with assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain United States Government officers or employees, which carries a maximum sentence of eight years in prison.
The evidence, of course, lies in the videotape they confiscated from him. We’ll be lucky if that ever makes the light of day.
When contacted by Photography is Not a Crime today, Donnelly said he was not commenting about his case.
But Libertadedia, described as the libertarian encyclopedia, offers detailed information obtained from court records.
The site states he has been subjected to the following conditions under house arrest, even though he has not been convicted:
- Bail in the amount of $50,000
- Defendant shall submit to random drug testing as directed by pretrial services
- Defendant shall undergo drug/alcohol treatment if necessary, as determined by pretrial services
- Defendant shall submit to electronic monitoring
- Defendant must obtain a land line
- Defendant may drive to food store three times per week, and must submit receipts to pretrial services, with prior approval of pretrial services
- Travel restricted to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- Defendant shall surrender and/or refrain from obtaining or applying for a passport
- Defendant shall surrender and/or refrain from obtaining any firearms
- Defendant shall have no contact with co-defendants in this case, or individuals engaged in any criminal activity
- Defendant may not publicize names, images or locations of officers or release information to anyone else
Donnelly was arrested on May 11th when he was accompanying activist Julian Heicklens who was passing out literature on jury nullification.
This is how Heicklens describes the incident:
At 12:10 pm, six federal marshals approached us in a confrontational manner and said we could not pass out literature nor take pictures. They stood right in front of each of us, no more than 6 inches away, so that we could not communicate with passersby. These were 6 of the most obnoxious people I have ever met.
We asked the marshals to identify themselves, but they refused. We would not identify ourselves.George attempted to take a picture, but they seized George’s camera. He attempted to retrieve it, but they they threw George to the ground. Then they decided to arrest him for assault. They were joined by a 7th marshal.
Heicklens states that Donnelly was released after spending two days in jail, forced to wear an electronic bracelet because he was unable to meet the $50,000 bail.
Last month, Donnelly was harassed twice for videotaping outside a federal courthouse, including one time when a federal officer got into his face and stated the following:
“If you get too close to me with that camera, I’ll take it out of your hand and ram it down your throat”
Although this was clearly a physical threat and there is no doubt who it came from, the officer was never disciplined because he was still working his beat since then, according to an interview with Donnelly a couple of weeks back.
The second time he was harassed, a different set of officers threatened to confiscate his camera.
Both times, he responded politely yet firmly, insisting that he was not breaking any laws, which he wasn’t.
So I’m looking forward to see how he responded in the video we have yet to see.
On his blog, Donnelly says he does not have an attorney and is asking for legal assistance, so hopefully people come through because this is an important matter. Here is the link to donate.
Popularity: 18% [?]
70 responses so far ↓
1 Michaelk42 // May 17, 2010 at 7:23 PM
Once again I have to question who the real terrorists are.
Michaelk42´s last blog ..Bike Summit tomorrow
2 Dustin // May 17, 2010 at 7:32 PM
I submitted it to Digg to maybe get a little more exposure:
http://digg.com/politics/Penn_activist_facing_8_years_in_prison_for_video
The whole thing is complete bullshit, and I’m afraid he probably doesn’t stand a chance because the whole thing stems from him handing out the jury nullification info, which the courts don’t want people to be aware of. The judge that handles his pretrial hearings will probably put him through hell.
What a screwed up system we have.
3 Alex J // May 17, 2010 at 7:44 PM
It would be poetic justice is the jury in this case thought he was guilty but used jury nullification to acquit.
4 Dustin // May 17, 2010 at 7:48 PM
Haha, yes it would.
5 David Z // May 17, 2010 at 7:56 PM
My thoughts are with George & his family, although I’ve often disagreed with him about tactics in the past, we share the same goals. Hopefully they’ll drop these ridiculous charges – I think eventually they will, but they’re going to probably try to make his life hell for a little while, first.
David Z´s last blog ..Aiyana Jones
6 Sydney Carton // May 17, 2010 at 8:19 PM
The defense will cost him over $100,000. He’s screwed.
7 Jay // May 17, 2010 at 8:22 PM
What a bunch of bullshit.
And today, Obama signed something called the Press Freedom Act (http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/05/17/protecting-press-freedoms-worldwide) which is supposed to help id countries where press freedoms aren’t observed. Um, how about we look within our borders? The people in US Government (actually, all governments) are hypocrites. Look at Twitter and Iran. The State Dept asked Twitter to wait on taking the service down for service, but yet at last year’s G20 — people are still being prosecuted for using Twitter to plan peaceful protests.
This might be the most glaring case of retalitory prosecution I’ve read about in quite some time.
8 Rusty Carr // May 17, 2010 at 8:31 PM
Its downright ugly. Is the ACLU going to get involved?
9 Burlyman78 // May 17, 2010 at 8:38 PM
I hope everyone’s going to put their money where their mouth is on this one. We have to bail out our own people when this happens.
10 Darren O'Connor // May 17, 2010 at 8:45 PM
This is beyond unacceptable. To quote myself, I really think this might be part of the “violent death throes of an aggressive criminal organization that senses its own impending collapse.” Thanks for helping spread the word about this, Carlos.
Darren O’Connor´s last blog ..Federal agents attack and kidnap liberty activist
11 Jon Quimbly // May 17, 2010 at 9:57 PM
That’s a seriously draconian set of restrictions. They’ve obviously targeted him for “special treatment,” from the prosecutor down to the captain/lieutenant of the federal court officers.
Notes for future demonstrations:
- Keep your hands at your sides and in plain view at all times.
- Be polite, and only say “No sir/ma’am” or “I want a lawyer” or “Am I free to go?” or “Are you detaining me?”
- Police and court officers are not your therapists – do not engage with elevated emotions or tone of voice, otherwise you’ll become a target
- Have two or more people with camcorders backing you up at all times. At least one should be off the premises, with a nice long lens and 1080p HD capability.
12 Michaelk42 // May 17, 2010 at 10:15 PM
“Defendant may not publicize names, images or locations of officers or release information to anyone else”
But we sure as hell can.
Even better would be a regular, massive camera presence at the Allentown courthouse.
Michaelk42´s last blog ..Bike Summit tomorrow
13 David Z // May 17, 2010 at 10:37 PM
interesting that defendant may not publicize names or images, but the prosecution can. If anyone has information about who these people are, I’ll gladly help hold them accountable.
David Z´s last blog ..Aiyana Jones
14 Alex J // May 17, 2010 at 10:43 PM
If you read the documents on the Libertadedia link it has the names of the two officers involved in the complaint.
15 Michaelk42 // May 17, 2010 at 11:05 PM
“Specifically, he is accused of resisting Deputy U.S. Marshal Enrique Trevino and Court Security Officer Claire Burns and striking the latter.”
So we know who the thugs involved are, then.
Michaelk42´s last blog ..Bike Summit tomorrow
16 Let Freedom Ring // May 17, 2010 at 11:12 PM
Have you ever heard of Errant Sovereign Handbook? Google It. Read It. Read It Again. Then Read it again……ya get my drift?
17 Rusty Carr // May 17, 2010 at 11:19 PM
Where do I donate.
18 Darren O'Connor // May 18, 2010 at 12:05 AM
Right here: http://donnelly.chipin.com/donnelly-legal-defense
19 Patrick Scott Shields // May 18, 2010 at 1:49 AM
Thank you for covering this, Carlos. I have never met Donnelly in person, but he seems like a very peaceful person. It is very unfortunate that he is in this situation.
20 KBCraig // May 18, 2010 at 2:04 AM
Carlos, I know that George doesn’t hold himself out to be a professional journalist, but do you think the SPJ might be able to help him, as they did you?
I’m off to hit the chip-in now.
21 Rance // May 18, 2010 at 4:07 AM
I sure hope they do. Maybe their attorneys could argue that none of this would have happened if the federal officers hadn’t illegally harrassed George in the first place. By snatching George’s camera without cause or a warrant, the officer was, himself, committing assault.
Rance´s last blog ..BinaryGravy: 10 Things You Can Do With a Dead Game Boy http://is.gd/cdAkt
22 Supernintendo Chalmers // May 18, 2010 at 9:39 AM
Who do I call to vent my frustration over his treatment?
23 David Z // May 18, 2010 at 10:28 AM
Excellent!
David Z´s last blog ..Aiyana Jones
24 Rusty Carr // May 18, 2010 at 12:12 PM
His fund is not building fast at all. Everybody needs to help out here, his need is extreme.
25 Burlyman78 // May 18, 2010 at 12:23 PM
I agree. I think it costs around $2,000 just to put a lawyer on retainer and have them start working on your case. George is only at $1,600. I think I read in one of the court documents that he has another court appearance scheduled for later this month. He needs a lawyer, and he needs one right now, if he hasn’t gotten one already. To get one he needs a lot of money, and he needs it right now.
26 Maz // May 18, 2010 at 1:56 PM
Allentown, PA’s police department requires only a GED or high school diploma. Of course the police department would no doubt be filled with former high school jerks who could not hack it in a modern, adult society without some form of authority over people.
27 Beniamino // May 18, 2010 at 2:04 PM
Obviously, George would prefer to get a private lawyer rather than have to rely on someone court-appointed. But if he’s facing a max. possible term of 8 yrs and is basically indigent, shouldn’t a lawyer already have been appointed? Be that as it may, I’ve contributed to the legal defense fund and will encourage others to do so.
28 Man Ray // May 18, 2010 at 3:04 PM
Next step, use equipment that simulcasts what your camera sees to a remote location.
29 Rusty Carr // May 18, 2010 at 3:10 PM
And that is available. Those butt-breaths HAVE to be reigned in, one way or another (note: I’m not advocating violence here.).
30 Jane Stenson // May 18, 2010 at 3:46 PM
There’s no question who the real terrorists are. It’s anybody that claims the right to force another person to do what they want just because they think it would be a good idea for them.
Personally, I think what little freedom we still have left shouldn’t be taken for granted. The real terrorists want to shut down press freedom so they can rule us without hearing about any complaints.
The real terrorists want to control speech so they don’t have to be criticized or even read about any of their misdeeds on http://www.dirtyphonebook.com or anyplace else. They want total control of the airwaves.
Thanks for bring this to my attention Carlos. This really makes me mad.
31 Iroc // May 18, 2010 at 3:52 PM
No need for violence when you have the only weapons you need.
A camera
And the truth.
32 sunil // May 18, 2010 at 4:48 PM
I’ve made a small donation. I have a little advice:
1) Find a good lawyer. For a case such as yours, you may be able to find a lawyer who will want to want to work on a pro bono basis.
2) Whether or not you find a lawyer LEARN THE LAW. Learn about your rights (I’m sure you are already doing this) and learn court procedure for protecting your rights.
Learn about court procedure and jurisdiction in particular. http://www.1215.org may be a good place to start.
All the best. Thanks for the good work you have been doing.
33 Jeff // May 18, 2010 at 5:14 PM
Just donated.
The word “fascist” gets thrown around a lot. I think this is an occasions where it is an accurate description of ‘law enforcement’ behavior.
Orwellian, may be even more apt.
34 tokenbearcub // May 18, 2010 at 5:34 PM
What about ‘sovereign immunity’ … ? I was under the impression that federal agents are responsible for arresting those who break the law, not following it themselves.
35 Chle // May 18, 2010 at 6:24 PM
Email from ACLU. Have George call them.
Thank you for contacting the ACLU. We do not accept complaints or give advice by email because we need to ask you many questions before we can give you any useful information. If you would like to file a complaint or speak with a person please call our intake line at 1-877-PHL-ACLU and leave a short message. Someone will get back to you in a few days.
We have received many emails concerning this person. If you have any contact with him please have him contact us. We need to hear directly from the principals in a case.
best,
info@aclupa.org
36 Adam Rochford // May 18, 2010 at 6:29 PM
The people are on your side George.
37 Perry // May 18, 2010 at 6:49 PM
Re: regular, massive camera presence. I think this is a great idea, it would be a really cool protest to just organize a group of people to videotape and broadcast webcams of the courthouse more or less 24/7. A publicity stunt like that might get this issue more attention in the MSM.
Perry´s last blog ..Quickly and easily do a large commit from Vim
38 George Donnelly // May 18, 2010 at 10:02 PM
Thanks everyone. Really, I’m very grateful and humbled. I’m not supposed to be saying anything, either because of release restrictions or counsel’s advice, but I can’t restrain myself from expressing the deep gratitude and humility I feel in the face of this solidarity. Thank you.
George Donnelly´s last blog ..A Million Thankyous
39 David Z // May 18, 2010 at 10:40 PM
it was about $1400 last night when I donated, but it’s over $3,500 right now.
David Z´s last blog ..Help Free George Donnelly, Political Prisoner
40 Rusty Carr // May 19, 2010 at 12:26 AM
On second thought, please don’t.
41 Rusty Carr // May 19, 2010 at 12:27 AM
You’re also fucked up in the head. Please go away.
42 Rusty Carr // May 19, 2010 at 12:29 AM
SHIT CARLOS!! Its time for some censorship here.
43 Michaelk42 // May 19, 2010 at 1:04 AM
You piped unfiltered Reddit in here?
That may have been… unwise.
44 Carlos Miller // May 19, 2010 at 1:08 AM
Why is it unwise?
Carlos Miller´s last blog ..Penn. activist facing 8 years in prison after videotaping officers outside courthouse
45 chs248 // May 19, 2010 at 2:04 AM
George has always been a bit of a blowhard, even since high school. He claims on his website that he single-handedly fought liberals in high school. Seriously, there were maybe 2 people in his graduating class and 2 teachers that actually cared about politics at the time. Think about it, how many 17 year old, inner-city kids dealing with on-going transit strikes and racial crime just trying to get to school really care about politics?
Also, has anyone ever read : http://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/03/nyregion/campus-life-chicago-student-leader-quits-under-fire-in-vote-fraud.html?scp=91&sq=george+donnelly&st=nyt
Unless you were there, don’t believe a single word coming from George’s mouth. He has always painted the picture that he’s been oppressed, he’s been downtrodden, he and his property have been violated. Its almost a form of self-martyrism. I believe his underlying motive was to film this AND be arrested, for the sake of martyrdom and to push his agenda. What I find hilarious is that George now has to surrender his firearm – which must be traumatic since he is an open-carry practitioner. He’s a programmer and small business owner – he CAN afford lawyer fees and could afford his bail, but probably refused to post bail on the grounds that he believed he was kidnapped. Many classmates from his alma mater (Univ of Chicago) are lawyers, but again, he’s playing the “pity me” player in this scene.
However, federal officers in a post-9/11 environment have been trigger happy and yield too much power.
46 NoelArmourson // May 19, 2010 at 3:11 AM
This is not “proving a point”; this is a part of the act of restoring the power of citizens and the rule of law over the government of this republic before it devolves into a full-blown police state. This may at times require willful civil disobedience to unlawful orders issued by police.
47 chris obrien // May 19, 2010 at 4:53 AM
This is happening every where, people believe in the myth of freedom until they try to exercise it!
We need to stop consenting to this!
48 John Howard // May 19, 2010 at 8:35 AM
What’s that quote? Something like ‘those who are willing to sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither.’
Learn it, bkdeamon.
49 Rusty Carr // May 19, 2010 at 10:13 AM
NO!
50 Rusty Carr // May 19, 2010 at 10:16 AM
Whose side are you on?
51 Yizmo Gizmo // May 19, 2010 at 10:31 AM
The Poetic Justice potential here seems high.
Jurors get selected, learn about Jury Nullification,
apply it to to this case, which is just guys
getting hassled by go’vt thugs for educating Jurors.
NOT GUILY
Bee-yoo-tif-ful, I tell you.
52 Lara Boons // May 19, 2010 at 12:37 PM
Is there somebody with a bad eye after the flash goes off by accident ? Poor, poor, poor police man, if they can not handle a strike on them, hapened or not, when the photographer had his both hands on a camera
53 Elika Hohne // May 19, 2010 at 12:38 PM
Does not have an attorney but could face 8 years in jail? What is that game about? If you are arrested for a criminal charge and and cannot afford an attorney one will be provided. Why were there no witnesses? Something about this story as it is reported sounds fishy.
54 Rance // May 19, 2010 at 1:42 PM
What’s with all the mouth breathing reddit trash on here?
Rance´s last blog ..BinaryGravy: French distillers challenge ban in bid to bring absinthe revival back to its roots http://is.gd/ceUhj Long live the Green Fairy!
55 Rusty Carr // May 19, 2010 at 3:25 PM
Yeah, WTF is going on with that crap?
56 Rusty Carr // May 19, 2010 at 3:28 PM
Here in the PRC we’re required to inform the other party that we’re recording. So the thing ya gotta do is to bellow out, “I’M VIDEO RECORDING THIS ACTIVITY AND I’VE GOT AN AUDIO CHANNEL RUNNING” or something to that effect. Anybody more familiar with CA law please correct me if I’m off base.
57 William // May 19, 2010 at 4:05 PM
Look at the massive amount of crap here. Please turn the reddit and twitter stuff off… this discussion is unreadable!
58 Rance // May 19, 2010 at 4:20 PM
It’s unwise because 80% (probably more) of the crap on reddit doesn’t pertain to the original article. The only thing reddit is good for is spreading propaganda, and playing pun games. In general, Reddit commenters are idiots.
Rance´s last blog ..BinaryGravy: French distillers challenge ban in bid to bring absinthe revival back to its roots http://is.gd/ceUhj Long live the Green Fairy!
59 Rusty Carr // May 19, 2010 at 6:45 PM
chs248 wrote: “He’s a programmer and small business owner – he CAN afford lawyer fees and could afford his bail…”
Yeah, we KNOW all them programmers/small business owners are bunch of closet millionaires!
60 Michaelk42 // May 19, 2010 at 6:56 PM
I figured that question would answer itself in a short time.
Michaelk42´s last blog ..Well, you’re not a good one, AWB
61 chs248 // May 19, 2010 at 10:12 PM
Its not like he’s a social worker making only $20k per year, but with an undergraduate degree from U. of Chicago, and as the owner of a web hosting company AND as a programmer, he’s certainly not broke.
62 Joel // May 19, 2010 at 11:27 PM
Innocent untill proven guilty I thought, but not from the laundry list of thing I’ve seen here, its guilty till proven innocent. I’m usually passive, but this has my ire up.
63 irish red // May 20, 2010 at 6:16 PM
Donated. This shit needs to stop.
64 Rusty Carr // May 20, 2010 at 6:19 PM
Are you privy to his IRS file or something?
65 O. Rly // May 20, 2010 at 6:23 PM
It sounds as if George has already been convicted and placed on probation/parole. Half of that stuff ought to be prohibited on 5A grounds and the other half on 5A-8A-14A grounds. The country we live in is really quite disgusting, where tyranny stands strong and the people get steamrolled. If there comes a time when people like George (i.e. libertarians purportedly uninterested in working within the frame of government and under the consideration of self-defense in a libertarian scenario rather than a legal) get the courage, clarity, or insanity to combat an immoral assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, or slavery with force (with little odds of such a scenario not ending in someone’s use of lethal force), I guess the minions who carry out the government plan may finally give pause before they act. Right now, they have so little to worry about that they act without care for consequence.
66 thedrickster // May 21, 2010 at 10:15 AM
Your post and opinion of George’s character is irrelevant, the government is still grossly in the wrong.
The attitude on display is one of “I don’t care what the government does to XXX because XXX” and is almost solely responsible for the destruction of Liberty within this geographic landmass.
67 Marc // May 21, 2010 at 7:51 PM
Given what George was doing, i wonder if the pamphlets he was handing out will be presented as evidence…
68 Rance // May 21, 2010 at 9:12 PM
One could only hope that they would be.
69 KBCraig // May 21, 2010 at 9:14 PM
Marc, that’s a brilliant point. We can only hope!
70 Rich // May 28, 2010 at 1:41 PM
so what is the latest on this George Donnelly IS he still being charged?
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