The bond motion says:
The school record shows that Mr. Phillipos had taken a leave of absence for a semester and did not attend school in the spring. As a result, he had not had contact with the main suspect or the other two individuals for over two months. But by sheer coincidence and bad luck, he was invited to attend a seminar on campus on April 18. As such, he did not have much to offer the authorities regarding the investigation of the suspect.
The motion doesn't address the timeline and sequence of events in the Complaint that the FBI says was it provided by Robel and the other two defendants arrested last week.
I think Robel should get bail. The offense with which he is charged does not carry a presumption against bail. The Government has conceded he is not a danger to the community. It is proceeding on the risk of flight prong of the statute.
Robel has lived in Cambridge his entire life. He is a U.S. citizen, raised by a single mother, a refugee from Ethopia who while raising him, obtained a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Social Work. She is the Director of numerous prominent domestic violence programs and emergency shelters and also assists refugees in the community.
Robel was an honor student in high school. He is still in college – he had taken this semester off. The family has the strong support of their church, the Ethopian Orthodox Christian church. He has never been arrested. He has strong family and community ties and was active in civic youth programs in the city.
Interestingly, one of the affidavits filed on his behalf is by a woman who adopted an Ethopian child. She refers to the Judge castigating Robel for looking down instead of at her during his court appearance. She writes:
When I read in the paper that the judge had admonished him for looking down at the floor instead of into her eyes, I felt sad because that is a sign of respect for in Ethiopian culture– not to look into the eyes of someone older or in authority, and to speak softly.
