Rich Paul, despite facing 81 years in prison for selling cannabis, has again refused the plea deal. As is mentioned in the “Don’t take the plea deal” flier, refusing an initial plea deal frequently leads to a second, better plea deal. That was the case today at superior court where Rich Paul was this morning for a hearing on some motions. The original plea deal on the table was that he plead guilty to the felonies and receive one year in jail. The new deal, offered this morning, was pleading to the felonies and receive zero jail time. Tempting as it was, Rich heroically refused and will go on trial by jury tomorrow at 9am.
Keene bureaucrats are furious about Robin Hood! Robin Hood of Keene is the most popular act of engagement with the community that FreeKeene has experimented with so far. Robin Hood employs a handful of individuals to feed the parking meters in downtown Keene. They are funded by private donations, usually from people they save. The Robin Hooders leave a type of calling card on the windshields of cars that they rescue, and when people return to see that they’ve been saved, they often donate and “Like” the Robin Hood of Keene Facebook page. (more…)
My name is Rich Paul. Last year, on May 31st, I was arrested by the Keene Police department. I was transported to the police station, where I expected to be booked for some crime. But I was not booked. Instead, I was taken to Special Agent Philip Christiana, who attempted to blackmail me. I was threatened with 81 years in prison, for delivery of marijuana and delivery of a substance purported to be LSD. I had, indeed, delivered marijuana as alleged, but had not purported anything to be LSD. The told me I had only one chance to save myself from them … that was to go on selling marijuana, but at the same time to spy on my friends at the Keene Activist Center, a political association of which I am a member.
I invoked my right to council, but Christiana said that if I did not relent, that the offer would be withdrawn, and that I would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and that no plea bargains would be offered to me at any time. I wanted to hear what he had to say, so I did relent and waived my right to council. I said that I would not make any kind of deal with him without being represented by council, to protect my interests. I also told him that we would not be negotiating with him, because he did not have the authority to give me immunity, and because law enforcement officers are permitted to lie to suspects, and that I could not trust him for that reason. He responded with a lie … (more…)
True to form, a group of hardcores came out this afternoon and enjoyed a smoke commenced after Rich’s iconic, “We smoke these in remembrance of lost liberties and in hope for a day where the people no longer fear their government because the government fears the people! Smoke ’em if you got ’em!”
Much conversation was had and a lovely afternoon was enjoyed by the near half-dozen in attendance.
420 celebrations will continue in Central Square through (and beyond) April 20th when a larger event will take place at the state house in Concord. (There will still be a Keene 420 that day as well.) However, the Concord 420 is expected to be well-attended, as it is every year. Here is a facebook event for the Concord 420 on 4/20.
Despite a fine performance by New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union attorney Barbara Keshen, the sad, obedient jury did what the state wanted and convicted the Trespassive Three of Occupy NH for “Criminal Trespass” for the crime of exercising their rights to free speech and assembly after 11pm in Manchester’s Veteran’s Park.
The jury’s guilty verdict basically says that a city ordinance can trump the constitutional supposed “protections” for the rights we allegedly have as human beings. It is a terrible decision against their fellow human beings.
After the trial, several activists awaited the release of the jury and attempted to offer cash for a quick interview. They were not having it, one even saying “we’re not talking to you” which is a strange thing to say, since she was walking alone when she said it. (I didn’t record that interaction.) Were they instructed to not talk to us? One juror in the video says they weren’t given such an instruction, but I have to wonder if that is true.
The juror who speaks to us later is not shown in the video, at her request. Could that be because she was ashamed of what she did? She decided to talk to us only after all the other jurors and court security had left. (more…)
This morning on NHPR’s “The Exchange” with Laura Knoy about the Free State Project‘s first decade in NH, the haters were on the attack against liberty activists here in Keene. Keene activism dominated the conversation with FSP guests Carla Gericke, Joel Winters, and Carol McGuire (both are state representatives – Joel a democrat and Carol a republican).
Perhaps the host of the show will have another episode actually featuring Keene activists who can respond to the ridiculous critics. The usual complaints of toplessness in front of middle schoolers, smoking pot, harassing crossing guards, police, and court staff and other misinformation came up and the guests’ answers were dodgy at best or outright attacks on Keene activism. Carol McGuire, for instance, agreed with the host when she asked her if she thought Keene was a “black eye” on the Free State Project.
One thing is for sure, as Joel Winters points out, Keene activism gets people talking. Too bad none of the speakers on the show bothered to address the ridiculous critiques straight on. No one pointed out:
Rich Paul, despite facing 81 years in prison for selling cannabis, has again refused the plea deal. As is mentioned in the “Don’t take the plea deal” flier, refusing an initial plea deal frequently leads to a second, better plea deal. That was the case today at superior court where Rich Paul was this morning for a hearing on some motions. The original plea deal on the table was that he plead guilty to the felonies and receive one year in jail. The new deal, offered this morning, was pleading to the felonies and receive zero jail time. Tempting as it was, Rich heroically refused and will go on trial by jury tomorrow at 9am.
As 
Much conversation was had and a lovely afternoon was enjoyed by the near half-dozen in attendance.![inthenews-nhpr[1]](https://i0.wp.com/freekeene.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/inthenews-nhpr1.jpg?resize=100%2C100)
