BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS: Blogger and independent journalist Aidan Kearney, known in Massachusetts as ‘Turtleboy’, has been facing multiple criminal charges for sending "harassing, threatening and intimidating" messages to witnesses related to Karen Read’s case.
Kearney has been facing the charges because of his vocal support of Read, who has been accused of running over her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe, per Fox News.
The prosecutors dealing with the case accuse Kearney of sending "harassing, threatening and intimidating" messages to the witnesses and investigators.
What are the accusations against Aidan Kearney?
Kearney, who is a blogger and covers news articles of Massachusetts like a journalist, is leading the faction of supporters who believe in Read’s innocence.
Karen Read is accused of running over O'Keefe while backing her car outside a home in January. She is also said to have left O’Keefe there to die in the snow, per NBC Boston.
However, there are several people who believe Read is innocent and that the accusations against Read are part of a cover-up.
Turtleboy or Kearney is one such person who is fighting to prove Read’s innocence. Per NBC, Special Prosecutor Kenneth Mello said he has written a staggering 164 articles supporting the suspect.
On Wednesday, October 11, Kearney was charged with six counts of witness intimidation and one count of conspiracy. He “vehemently denied” the charges and pleaded not guilty.
He has been released on personal recognizance bail and has been strictly instructed not to contact Juliana Nagle, Christopher and Colin Albert, Michael and Elizabeth Proctor, and Jennifer and Matthew McCabe.
If he fails to do so, Kearney would face a jail sentence of up to 90 days without bail.
Per the prosecutors, his activism crossed a line as he photographed the witnesses and dropped by their children’s “sporting events” and “made scenes.”
Aidan Kearney’s lawyers say he is a ‘newsperson who has a right to cover a story’
Kearney’s lawyer referred to him as a "newsperson who has a right to cover a story" and said he is protected by the First Amendment.
The lawyer was heard saying in the court, "When I read the statements that the prosecution read, I see opinions. I don't see threats.”
Mentioning the YouTube videos, the lawyer added, "If any of his statements violated YouTube policy, they could've had them all taken down."
On Thursday, Kearney accused the law enforcement of intimidating him.
He wrote in his X account, "Men with guns showed up at my house, tore it apart, took my computer and phones and handcuffed me in full view of my kids as they got on the school bus," before adding, "I’m not the one guilty of intimidation."
