Alleged 'Innocence of Muslims' Filmmaker Taken in For Interviewing by Deputies

[Hissyspit]

Source: LA Times

Alleged 'Innocence of Muslims' filmmaker taken in for interviewing by deputies

September 15, 2012 | 12:46 am

Just after midnight, authorities descended on the Cerritos home of the man believed to be the filmmaker behind the anti-Muslim movie that has sparked protests and rioting in the Arab world.

Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies escorted a man believed to be Nakoula Basseley Nakoula to an awaiting car. The man declined to answer questions on his way out and wore a hat and a towel over his face. He kept his hands in the pocket of a winter coat.

Sheriff's officials could not be reached by The Times, but department spokesman Steve Whitmore told NBC4 that deputies assisting the federal probation department took Nakoula to the sheriff's substation in Cerritos for interviewing.

Authorities waited until most media had left for the day.

Read more: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/09/anti-muslim-film-nakoula-basseley-innocence-muslims.html

[MADem]

1. I'll bet they are going to revoke his probation based on his failure to notify his probation officer

of his internet use.

I'm guessing they bagged his computer and assorted "devices" as well.

On Friday, U.S. courts spokeswoman Karen Redmond said the Office of Probation in the Central District of California is reviewing whether Nakoula, who was convicted on bank fraud charges, violated terms of his probation in relation to the video and its uploading onto the web.

He had been ordered not to own or use devices with access to the Web without approval from his probation officer -– and any approved computers were to be used for work only. "Defendant shall not access a computer for any other purpose," the terms read.

Restrictions were also placed on him enlisting others to get on the Internet for him.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/09/anti-muslim-film-nakoula-basseley-innocence-muslims.html
The picture accompanying the article is something--isn't he Wrapped in Swaddling Clothes?

[Tx4obama]

2. If they do revoke his probation ...

and put him back in jail/prison then The US could tell the Middle-East that the man that made the film is in jail/prison.

Ya think?

[MADem]

3. Well, they'd just report it in the news. It would be picked up over there, certainly.

I think that's probably how they'll approach this. It's the one easy hook they have.

[SkyDaddy7]

15. No, the man may have...

Violated his probation & if so needs to be back in jail just like anyone else who violates their probation. Right?

How it is seen in the Middle East could just be an added benefit of enforcing our laws here at home.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

27. I think that is the course the US Gov will go

Its appeasement at its most vile, but then again, it is international politics.

[hlthe2b]

30. How is enforcing the terms of his probation, vile appeasement?

[Missycim]

31. You know perfectly well

they would revoke it just to calm down the crazies in the ME.

[Wait Wut]

33. No, that would just be an added benefit.

They'd still revoke his probation, either way.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

34. If it were not for this stupidity, they would not know of it

Its a common parole requirement for white collar crime and is uniformly ignored. It makes for a handy hook when needed since everyone uses the Internet.

[ToxMarz]

38. Probation is not a civil right

You seem to suggest that authorities are violating his civil rights to probation or something. He is a convicted felony. The judicial system has given him leniency, and he has once again shown contempt for the laws and society. And gotten innocent people killed.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

40. I am suggesting nothing like that at all

They will revoke his parole as a sop to the mobs. That sets a horrible precedent since that will be the expectation for the next time something gets their undies in a knot something similar will happen. If the person is not on parole, what could the US Government do?

He failed to follow parole requirements. That is no where near the same as showing "contempt for the laws and society". We also do not know if his parole officer gave him permission to use the Internet or not (it was not a blanket ban)

He has gotten no one killed. It is pretty clear now that a armed attack was being planned for Benghazi on 9/11.

The trailer is still trash, but the likely US Governement reaction is going to cause more problems in the long run that it solves

[brush]

46. Not what we should be concerned about

Probation or not for this guy is not what we should be concerned about. We should be concerned about who's behind him and who put up the money for this film. Don't be naive. This whole matter, especially the timing of it being translated to Arabic just before 9/11 and the middle east media being alerted, does not begin or end with him. They need to follow the money trail and find out who put this whole thing into motion. My guess is it's from some right wing source.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

47. I too think there is more to this than currently on table

Certainly more people. However some are posting here that is just conspiracy woo. http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014231417#post11 I do not understand their motivations.

[rayofreason]

56. I agree completely. n/t

[Bragi]

60. I share your conern

Busting this guy on a minor parole violation means he will soon be released, and then once again AQ etc. will be able to loudly proclaim that once again the American government refuses to arrest the perpetrators, and maybe get people all riled up again.

AQ can milk this tactic as as long as the US refuses to state clearly to one and all that Americans right to free speech isn't going to be curtail by government to avoid hurting the feelings of any religious group. Sacrilege and blasphemy are legal in the US. That isn't up for negotiation.

So far, the US government has been afraid to tell the truth about its inability to stop anyone from exercising their right to free speech. I wish it would get over this reluctance.

Arresting this guy for pissy little parole violations, and then letting him go a few days later, doesn't help.

[Ash_F]

41. Are you familiar with probation programs?

At least here in Texas, they will revoke it for any infraction. There is almost never any leeway. I don't know about California but I doubt it is much different. The probation program is the mercy they give you, there is very little afterwards.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

43. This is Federal...

The no Internet access without permission requirement is common for white collar crime. It is also uniformly unenforced *unless* there is another concern. Then it is the hook used since not using the Internet is almost impossible today. If the Feds do that here, they will have to get a judge to go along with it.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

50. Do you have any source for your claims this requirement is "uniformly unenforced"...

... when violations are brought to the attention of the parole authorities?

[RobinA]

57. Here in PA

there is leeway you could drive a truck through. Don't know about Federal. Maybe they have room in their prisons for every violation, I don't know.

[hlthe2b]

44. Yet you would advocate NOT following the law, so as to avoid any suggestion of appeasement?

Gawd, how horrible it would be to be perceived as following our own laws, while also being concerned about preventing further violence.

What a truly perverted sense of priorities.

[RobinA]

55. Because

"enforcing terms of probation" tends to be QUITE selective. Something tells me that if he had uploaded pictures of his vacation to his Facebook page they would not be paying much attention to him.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

4. "isn't he Wrapped in Swaddling Clothes? "

Naw...

[MADem]

8. He looks like that guy, too!!!! nt

[Spitfire of ATJ]

53. No kidding....

[img][/img]

[pinboy3niner]

12. Local news in L.A. showed his criminal attorney entering the home Friday

Embattled Anti-Muslim Film Producer Remains Locked Inside Cerritos Home
September 14, 2012 9:43 PM

CERRITOS (CBSLA.com) — Nakoula Nakoula, the embattled producer of the anti-Muslim movie “The Innocence of Muslims,” remained locked behind the doors of his Cerritos home Friday.

Carter Evans, reporting for CBS2 and KCAL9, said Nakoula had a visitor.

The front door opened briefly when Nokoula’s new attorney, Steve Seiden, arrived.

He said, “I’ve been asked to consult with Mr. Nakoula regarding matters that I’m not at liberty to discuss. We’re not going to answer any questions today.”

Later, Seiden spoke to Evans by phone.

Seiden is a criminal defense attorney. He told Evans he was hired specifically to represent Nakoula in regard to his supervised released after he served time for bank fraud in a federal prison.

...

Video at link:
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/09/14/embattled-anti-muslim-film-producer-remains-locked-inside-cerritos-home/

[Swagman]

5. just a front man??

[StrictlyRockers]

6. More like a fall guy at this point.

This saga will take many more twists before it unravels.

[Kolesar]

11. You and Swagman have *nothing* to base that on...eom

[SkyDaddy7]

16. EXACTLY!

Thanks for keeping things real. It seems too many folks these days try to make a Conspiracy out of everything...Sometimes, well, MOST of the time things are as they appear. This guy may have violated his probation & if so then he needs to go back to jail regardless of what it may look like.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

35. There are more names coming out daily

Latest is the producer who also did soft core porn (Brown?). I still think there are more tawdry characters to be identified...but its not going be like the Grassy Knoll either.

[Swagman]

22. true....but I bet I'm right

[silvershadow]

24. Don't worry, Swagman...I may be right, who knows?

I'm with you, at least at this point...I don't post nearly as much here as I used to back in the day (I've been here since DU's founding, under a different name).

[ProgressiveProfessor]

28. There were new names coming out yesterday...low grade porn producer IIRC

[classykaren]

32. They have blamed 3 different men so far

Other web sites are naming a Sam Roberts a soft porn director as the one responsible . Why all the different information?

[ck4829]

7. He's probably been committing acts of fraud this whole time

But he's a political prisoner according to the freepers.

[Scootaloo]

9. Oh, I expect we'll be seeing some "Free Basseley" signatures on DU as well n/t

[oberliner]

18. I expect you are wrong n/t

[Scootaloo]

21. My optimism is waning, I suppose. Hope you're right.

[frylock]

45. he's a political prisoner according to some DU herp derpers as well..

take a look at some of the replys in this thread.

[Bragi]

69. WTF is a "DU herp deerper"? /nt

[oldsarge54]

10. Story Title

What I find interesting is the use of the word "alleged" in the title of this piece. That word is usually associated with a criminal that has been charged but not convicted. Being that this story has more twists than a corkscrew, has he been charged with anything? And to the free speachers who remonstrated with me rather vigorously earlier. Free speech means you can say what you want. Free speech does not mean you do not have to face the consequences resulting from what you said.

[sendero]

13. There is plenty to suggest..

... that this guy is a bit player in this mess. Since there were many people involved in this, it might take some time to sort out who did what.

[oberliner]

17. I think no one is sure that he is actually the filmmaker

A lot of details and supposed facts about this thing have turned out to be shaky.

[pinboy3niner]

14. He has now been questioned and released

Steve Whitmore, with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, told CNN that Nakoula had left the local sheriff's station after the federal officials were done interviewing him.

"He is gone and he is free," he said of Nakoula, who was bundled up in a coat, hat and white scarf as he was escorted from the premises by a sheriff's deputy.

Whitmore earlier dismissed reports that Nakoula had been arrested, saying he was never in handcuffs and had left his house willingly to be interviewed.

Karen Redmond, a spokeswoman for the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, said Friday that Nakoula's federal probation was under review.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/15/world/anti-islam-filmmaker/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

[Bragi]

61. Good! It reaffirms that blasphemy is legal in the US

Much of the world seems confused about American laws. It's time to get the message out that people in the US can freely desecrate things, burn holy books and flags, engage in outrageous blasphemy through word or film, and it's all legal in America, it's called free speech. This isn't up for negotiation.

Once people understand that, then they will understand that the American government is not responsible for every helpful or hateful statement made by every American citizen.

[Tx4obama]

63. I heard on the news this morning that a hearing date has been set ...

regarding revocation of his parole, I think they might have said 'next week'.
I didn't catch it all.

[greiner3]

19. "Earlier Friday, sheriff’s deputies had to escort attorneys through a scrum of news cameras..."

WTF does scrum mean?

All I could find out was it was a term for Rugby or a software grouping.

Anyone?

Paparazzi=sc(r)um?

[pinboy3niner]

20. Scrum here means simply, a group or a bunch. nt

[oberliner]

26. A disorderly group

Have you never heard this use of the word before?

It is fairly common usage.

[daleo]

74. A scrum is a rugby football formation

A bit like North American football's concept of a scrimmage. In Canadian politics it is a sort of informal press conference, wher a group of reporters surround politicians as they walk, and shout questions at them. It is a sort of controlled chaos.

[Tom Ripley]

23. Is extradition a possibility? That would be ...nice.

[oberliner]

25. To where?

What are you talking about?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

29. No, and it would not be nice

Saying nasty things about a historical figure is not a crime in the US.

[rayofreason]

58. That is the real issue.

Our refusal to pass blasphemy laws and our obstruction of similar efforts in the UN is "insensitive."

[SoapBox]

36. So...IS he an American citizen?

Anyone?

[jsr]

37. I think he is a naturalized citizen

[askeptic]

39. Funny - I don't remember anyone thinking we should arrest Salmon Rushdie or

taking him in for "police interviews"

[ck4829]

42. He was convicted for fraud, he's not allowed to access the Internet

That's part of his probation deal.

[askeptic]

48. So since they let him go, I guess they don't really have evidence?

That this guy did -- that is an assumption on your part

[ck4829]

49. Actually, last I heard, they're still investigating it

Taking on the alias "Sam Bacile" doesn't give a person free license to violate their probation though.

So, tell me when he's been cleared, they'll announce it.

[Tx4obama]

64. See comment #63 n/t

[ck4829]

70. That's the post I just replied to

He hasn't been cleared yet, they let him go, but he's not out of the woods yet

[orpupilofnature57]

51. Hopefully no other entity will want to Feed his Greed.

Fuck him and his Fundie Friends.

[ck4829]

52. He's got plenty of friends

Just look at some of the replies here and in other threads. He's a good fraudster, he's got plenty of suckers.

[defacto7]

54. With all the preparation and mummification...

Seems rather a coward to me... If he is innocent of the making of this film or participation in it's promotion, I would suppose there would be reason to hide.

If he's not innocent, then he's a truly cowardly man.

[RobinA]

59. I'm Missing Something Here

Why all this attention on who made or might have made this movie? This movie is protected in this country. What difference does it make who made it, why it was made or anything else about this film. I don't get what looks like a criminal investigation.

[HooptieWagon]

62. He violated probation.

He is on probation for financial fraud. One term of probation is not to use internet. He likely posted the trailer to YouTube under the "Sam Bacile" alias.

[Tx4obama]

65. See comment #63 n/t

[Bragi]

66. It's just an excuse to silence him

That's why it won't fly. Any lawyer will demand immediate release and get it, sooner or later.

When he finally gets released, AQ can then organize more riots against the US for -- once again -- refusing to silence this blasphemer.

As long as no-one explains and defends the first amendment, it will be more fodder for AQ.

[HooptieWagon]

67. It doesn't matter if he posted "Bambi" on YouTube.

Using the internet violated the terms of his probation. That the movie caused an uproar certainly called attention to him, but doesn't change the fact that he violated his probation.

[Bragi]

68. A violation does not automatically mean prison

There are various possible outcomes. If a violation is seen as trivial by a judge, then probation can just be reinstated.

[HooptieWagon]

71. His probation terms specifically state

he may not use the internet without judicial approval, may not have someone use the internet on his behalf, and he may not use false name. He violated all three... that doesn't seem trivial to me.

[Bragi]

72. Perhaps he'lll get a good judge

You know, the kind who says "so, what exactly is going on here?"

[hrmjustin]

73. THey need to be carefull not to make it seem he is being punished for the film.

Then the people in the middle east might get the wrong idea that we can just arrest people for making stupid statements. I do have to say that I would love nothing better than seeing his probation revoked, but it might give the wrong impression to the people protesting us.