BOSTON — A friend of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has been released from federal custody while he awaits trial on charges of lying to federal investigators probing the April 15 bombings.
Robel Phillipos was charged last week and faces up to eight years in prison if convicted. The 19-year-old was a student with Tsarnaev at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
Prosecutors initially asked that Phillipos be held while he awaits trial, arguing that he poses a serious flight risk.
But prosecutors and Phillipos’ lawyers said Monday in a joint motion they now agree that Phillipos can be released under strict conditions, including home confinement, monitoring with an electronic bracelet and a $100,000 secured bond.
Magistrate Judge Marianne Bowler agreed to the request during a hearing Monday afternoon.
“We are confident that in the end we will be able to clear his name,” defense attorney Derege Demissie said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Capin said documents filed over the weekend by Phillipos’ defense, including many affidavits showing support from family and friends, might be viewed as indirectly questioning the government’s case against Phillipos.
“The government stands by its allegations,” Capin said.
Defense attorney Susan Church described Phillipos as a well-liked, honor roll student with many friends and supporters. At least 50 relatives, friends and other supporters attended the court hearing.
Church emphasized that Phillipos is not accused of helping Tsarnaev and his brother plan or carry out the bombings.
“At no time did Robel have any prior knowledge of this marathon bombing,” she said.
Bowler told Phillipos he was allowed to leave the house only for meetings with his lawyers or true emergencies.
Phillipos is accused of lying to investigators about visiting Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s college dorm room on April 18, three days after the bombings. Two other friends were charged with conspiring to obstruct justice by taking a backpack with fireworks and a laptop from Tsarnaev’s dorm room.
Robel Phillipos was charged last week and faces up to eight years in prison if convicted. The 19-year-old was a student with Tsarnaev at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
Prosecutors initially asked that Phillipos be held while he awaits trial, arguing that he poses a serious flight risk.
But prosecutors and Phillipos’ lawyers said Monday in a joint motion they now agree that Phillipos can be released under strict conditions, including home confinement, monitoring with an electronic bracelet and a $100,000 secured bond.
Magistrate Judge Marianne Bowler agreed to the request during a hearing Monday afternoon.
“We are confident that in the end we will be able to clear his name,” defense attorney Derege Demissie said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Capin said documents filed over the weekend by Phillipos’ defense, including many affidavits showing support from family and friends, might be viewed as indirectly questioning the government’s case against Phillipos.
“The government stands by its allegations,” Capin said.
Defense attorney Susan Church described Phillipos as a well-liked, honor roll student with many friends and supporters. At least 50 relatives, friends and other supporters attended the court hearing.
Church emphasized that Phillipos is not accused of helping Tsarnaev and his brother plan or carry out the bombings.
“At no time did Robel have any prior knowledge of this marathon bombing,” she said.
Bowler told Phillipos he was allowed to leave the house only for meetings with his lawyers or true emergencies.
Phillipos is accused of lying to investigators about visiting Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s college dorm room on April 18, three days after the bombings. Two other friends were charged with conspiring to obstruct justice by taking a backpack with fireworks and a laptop from Tsarnaev’s dorm room.