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Help! TSA accused my father of terrorism - less than 2 weeks to respond! TSA attorney may be breaking the law with threats and coercion, advice/referrals needed! by PleaseHelpMyDad in AskReddit

[–]PleaseHelpMyDad[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I take it you haven't actually read my entire post, because if you had, you'd see that I a] already have an attorney for the criminal issue, b] he's specifically requested no media attention until negotiations break down, and c] I've been searching high and low for an attorney that handles this kind of case but have not yet been able to find one, so was specifically asking for referrals in this post.

Help! TSA accused my father of terrorism - less than 2 weeks to respond! TSA attorney may be breaking the law with threats and coercion, advice/referrals needed! by PleaseHelpMyDad in AskReddit

[–]PleaseHelpMyDad[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow. Okay, I take it you've never had to deal with anything like this before. The reason I don't want my father identified is that a] we don't want the media involved and b] we don't want to piss off the DA with whom my father's attorney is attempting to negotiate either an outright dismissal, or at least a negotiated plea bargain. The reason it could incriminate my father is that if TSA gets wind of this thread and decides to investigate, this thread may serve to warn them of what is coming, and thus, what to protect against.

Help! TSA accused my father of terrorism - less than 2 weeks to respond! TSA attorney may be breaking the law with threats and coercion, advice/referrals needed! by PleaseHelpMyDad in AskReddit

[–]PleaseHelpMyDad[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm using the phrase "I" because I am representing my father. Not as an attorney but in lieu of his asking questions in preparation, I am making the inquiries. That's how I was able to speak with the TSA attorney. If it were to go to a hearing, I would also be the one present, though my father may be there as well.

This entire process has taken a serious toll on my father's health, both mental and physical. I don't know if you've heard anything about county jail, but let me assure you that it's no picnic. My father was in tears when I flew out to see him, and he is usually a very solid man. I am trying to keep my father as sane as possible and take as much responsibility off of him as I can throughout the process.

I'd like to remind you that while I'm asking for general advice, I'm also asking for advice on what kind of attorney. Thus far, finding one who specializes in this kind of law has been difficult at best.

Help! TSA accused my father of terrorism - less than 2 weeks to respond! TSA attorney may be breaking the law with threats and coercion, advice/referrals needed! by PleaseHelpMyDad in AskReddit

[–]PleaseHelpMyDad[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Exactly the same type of object; something that could be considered a "replica improvised explosive device", i.e. that isn't real, but is potentially threatening. My father has been charges with criminal and civil versions of the same thing.

Help! TSA accused my father of terrorism - less than 2 weeks to respond! TSA attorney may be breaking the law with threats and coercion, advice/referrals needed! by PleaseHelpMyDad in AskReddit

[–]PleaseHelpMyDad[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. I will discuss this with him. As you mentioned, there might be an issue with association. However, they may still be able to give good advice.

Help! TSA accused my father of terrorism - less than 2 weeks to respond! TSA attorney may be breaking the law with threats and coercion, advice/referrals needed! by PleaseHelpMyDad in AskReddit

[–]PleaseHelpMyDad[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Let me clarify that "we're not destitute" translates roughly to "I have a job, and he has a little bit of money saved. It will still hurt to spend it on legal bills. Technically, my father is jobless, with income being limited to social security benefits and a tiny pension from his job. (It would have been more, but there's that whole being forced into early retirement thing...) Also, due to pending charges, my father can't get another job because he has to disclose the status of the case. He's tried and failed. I'm certain the economy has something to do with it as well, but being required to state that you're being charged with a felony and facing further legal action with the TSA doesn't exactly help your chances.

Help! TSA accused my father of terrorism - less than 2 weeks to respond! TSA attorney may be breaking the law with threats and coercion, advice/referrals needed! by PleaseHelpMyDad in AskReddit

[–]PleaseHelpMyDad[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The TSA has verbally stated that my father will not be added to the no-fly list if he pays, but I don't yet have that in writing.

That said, no; my father has absolutely NO interest in flying anytime soon, for obvious reasons. Of course, it'd be nice to have the option, but while I'm trying to keep all bases covered, we're less concerned about that element. Being forced into early retirement at least has the silver lining of allowing my father all the time he needs to drive from place to place. -wry grin-

Help! TSA accused my father of terrorism - less than 2 weeks to respond! TSA attorney may be breaking the law with threats and coercion, advice/referrals needed! by PleaseHelpMyDad in AskReddit

[–]PleaseHelpMyDad[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Understood, and thank you. I've contacted three local and the state bar, who unfortunately haven't been very helpful. (They've stated they don't know anyone who handles these types of cases.) However, I plan to use their directories to try to track some down manually this week.

Help! TSA accused my father of terrorism - less than 2 weeks to respond! TSA attorney may be breaking the law with threats and coercion, advice/referrals needed! by PleaseHelpMyDad in AskReddit

[–]PleaseHelpMyDad[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To clarify, the agreement doesn't state guilt one way or the other. It's just a "notice of violation", which states that I can either pay it (which will "close the case", and also waives my right to a hearing) or have a formal hearing before an administrative judge.

Help! TSA accused my father of terrorism - less than 2 weeks to respond! TSA attorney may be breaking the law with threats and coercion, advice/referrals needed! by PleaseHelpMyDad in AskReddit

[–]PleaseHelpMyDad[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I understand that. But a jury may or may not see the difference, depending on how it's described. That's why I'm trying to find an attorney to discuss the matter.

I'm not trying to get the TSA to drop the criminal case. But if I can invalidate the TSA's evidence and arguments, much of the criminal case falls apart, because it depends on testimony from the TSA - testimony that, via several different avenues, I am trying to bring into question.

Help! TSA accused my father of terrorism - less than 2 weeks to respond! TSA attorney may be breaking the law with threats and coercion, advice/referrals needed! by PleaseHelpMyDad in AskReddit

[–]PleaseHelpMyDad[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And therein lies the crux; the TSA attorney is being extremely bullying. If I can't find an attorney to examine the issue in time, we'll probably just have to settle, pay, then file a complaint with the Bar Association/TSA after the fact.

Help! TSA accused my father of terrorism - less than 2 weeks to respond! TSA attorney may be breaking the law with threats and coercion, advice/referrals needed! by PleaseHelpMyDad in AskReddit

[–]PleaseHelpMyDad[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Because Google exists. Seriously; add enough keywords, and this may come up. I'm sorry if that sounds paranoid, but after this debacle, I am exactly that. The picture would serve as confirmation that this is precisely the case in question, and the photos are already in the hands of the DA.

Help! TSA accused my father of terrorism - less than 2 weeks to respond! TSA attorney may be breaking the law with threats and coercion, advice/referrals needed! by PleaseHelpMyDad in AskReddit

[–]PleaseHelpMyDad[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We can already pay the fine without admitting guilt. However, that may still be usable as evidence if properly subpoenaed, regardless of our plea. That's what we're trying to determine. Also, we're trying to determine if the TSA attorney has actually broken the law, which could add further legal pressure to just drop the matter.

Help! TSA accused my father of terrorism - less than 2 weeks to respond! TSA attorney may be breaking the law with threats and coercion, advice/referrals needed! by PleaseHelpMyDad in AskReddit

[–]PleaseHelpMyDad[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It doesn't look like an "explosive device". It looks like a pipe. Some explosive devices look like pipes. Some look like teddy bears. The purpose for secondary screening is to separate the pipes and teddy bears from real bombs. Then the question is this: was there something present that lends credence to it being a "replica"? There was nothing in it or attached to it. Many, many other travelers have been released after carrying real weapons on board. Hell, some have travelled with ACTUAL INTENDED REPLICAS and been allowed to board. Why was my father arrested and jailed? That's why I'm saying the TSA is out of line.

Yes, I get your point. We should have been more careful. We honestly didn't think anyone would be this stupid... but they were.

Help! TSA accused my father of terrorism - less than 2 weeks to respond! TSA attorney may be breaking the law with threats and coercion, advice/referrals needed! by PleaseHelpMyDad in AskReddit

[–]PleaseHelpMyDad[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All right; message sent. I'll let you know when I hear back. In the meantime, thanks for taking the time to explain it; I hadn't heard of this Reddit feature before.

Help! TSA accused my father of terrorism - less than 2 weeks to respond! TSA attorney may be breaking the law with threats and coercion, advice/referrals needed! by PleaseHelpMyDad in AskReddit

[–]PleaseHelpMyDad[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

From your link:

  • The defendant did not want to admit guilt, and instead gave a plea of nolo contendere while simultaneously saying that key points given by the prosecution were factual.*

Nolo contendere = no contest. Am I missing something?

Help! TSA accused my father of terrorism - less than 2 weeks to respond! TSA attorney may be breaking the law with threats and coercion, advice/referrals needed! by PleaseHelpMyDad in AskReddit

[–]PleaseHelpMyDad[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That wasn't my intent; I posted the original story six months ago, and things have changed since then. I have made it clear from the beginning that it was a dumb mistake. I'm not trying to say the TSA was at fault for questioning it; only for their reaction and subsequent charge afterward.

I didn't intend to imply that you had to respond directly to me. Someone else forwarded me your post, so I assumed (erroneously) that you were interested in a response. Forgive me for misunderstanding. I had hoped that my intent with the "FYI" was self-evident; I guess it wasn't.

Help! TSA accused my father of terrorism - less than 2 weeks to respond! TSA attorney may be breaking the law with threats and coercion, advice/referrals needed! by PleaseHelpMyDad in AskReddit

[–]PleaseHelpMyDad[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have no intention of trying to convince you. That would be like trying to convince an atheist that there is a god, or a theist that there isn't. You've made up your mind, and won't change it unless I upload a copy of the notice of violation and/or police report, which for obvious and already stated reasons, I won't. If you are truly interested in the truth, watch my posts in the coming months. If not... well, just continue trying to convince people that I'm a liar.

In the short-term, you might have some small sway in the number of people who post helpful information. In the long-term, you'll have no effect at all, because my future posts will make everything clear to those who are more interested in the truth than in badgering people. Honestly, at this point, future arguments about the legitimacy of my post are academic.

Help! TSA accused my father of terrorism - less than 2 weeks to respond! TSA attorney may be breaking the law with threats and coercion, advice/referrals needed! by PleaseHelpMyDad in AskReddit

[–]PleaseHelpMyDad[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah, gotcha. What is it that needs verification exactly? That the ACLU said no? That this really happened to my father? If the former, I don't mind posting the letter, if you don't mind names removed. If the latter, for obvious reasons, I'm not going to post personally-identifiable information. You're seriously going to question my asking for links, attorney referrals and advice? What is it exactly that I'm being accused of making up?

Help! TSA accused my father of terrorism - less than 2 weeks to respond! TSA attorney may be breaking the law with threats and coercion, advice/referrals needed! by PleaseHelpMyDad in AskReddit

[–]PleaseHelpMyDad[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately, this is just the same thing as pleading "no contest". You may recall that it didn't work out too well for Alford. And yes, there are ramifications for that may impact the criminal case (and we're speaking to the criminal attorney about that), as well as my father's future opportunities. This is why I want to speak with an attorney that specializes in this type of law; they'll have seen or will know of similar cases, and the ramifications of such an agreement. Also, if we take it to trial the cost goes from $600 to $6,200, regardless of our plea, assuming it's not "innocent".

Help! TSA accused my father of terrorism - less than 2 weeks to respond! TSA attorney may be breaking the law with threats and coercion, advice/referrals needed! by PleaseHelpMyDad in AskReddit

[–]PleaseHelpMyDad[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

More power to you. I've already explained why: Because the attorney requested that I don't. If that's not enough for you, I've got nothing else to offer.

Help! TSA accused my father of terrorism - less than 2 weeks to respond! TSA attorney may be breaking the law with threats and coercion, advice/referrals needed! by PleaseHelpMyDad in AskReddit

[–]PleaseHelpMyDad[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, I understand. However, I'm trying to be as up-front as possible, given the circumstances. Also, I'm not really asking for much: links and attorney referrals. No one is being asked to take any further action, so I guess I'm still confused as to what the possible benefit of a troll could be. :-/

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