Virginia judge orders release of detained veteran

August 31, 2012[edit]

RICHMOND, Virginia: Judge W. Allan Sharrett has ordered the release of a former Marine who had been detained for psychiatric evaluation after posting anti-government messages on Facebook. Sharrett, a Prince George County Circuit judge, ruled that the involuntary commitment order issued by a magistrate against Brandon J. Raub was invalid because it contained no basis to hold him.^[1] Raub was taken into custody on August 16, following an FBI interview.^[2] The FBI said they conducted the interview because people had complained about Raub's Facebook statuses. The Rutherford Institute, a civil liberties organization, intervened on Raub's behalf, characterizing the government's actions as those of a police state. Rutherford Institute executive director John Whitehead said, "Brandon Raub was arrested with no warning, targeted for doing nothing more than speaking out against the government, detained against his will, and isolated from his family, friends and attorneys. These are the kinds of things that take place in totalitarian societies. Today, at least, Judge Allan Sharrett proved that justice can still prevail in America."^[1]

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