This is a story of one Jason Valdez, Facebook, and his particularly dense friends.

While involved in a 16-hour armed standoff with police in Ogden, Utah, Valdez continuously updated his Facebook status from his phone.

Though most of his friends encouraged him to surrender, a few decided to take the opportunity to tell him about SWAT movement outside of his motel room.

That’s a crime.

The entire Facebook-aided fiasco began when police tried to serve a felony warrant on Jason Valdez at a local motel, reports CNN. He barricaded himself in the room along with a woman, who he claims was there willingly.

Valdez included a picture of the pair in one of his status updates.

Most friends and family responded to his messages in an appropriate fashion, but CNN reports that a few took another route.

One of those exchanges, according to Business Week, went like this:

SWAT team members were reportedly surrounding the building, and had to change tactics after this and similar messages.

Friend: Gun ner in the bushes stay low

Valdez: Good looking out

So, what’s to become of this friend of Jason Valdez?

Facebook updates of these sort, particularly because they alert a suspect of police whereabouts and cause a change of tactics, can rise to the level of obstruction of justice.

In Utah specifically, obstruction of justice includes intentionally preventing the apprehension of a criminal suspect by warning a suspect of impending apprehension, or by providing the suspect with means of avoiding apprehension.

Though it’s unclear whether this guy will be charged, there’s still a lesson to be learned from the story of Jason Valdez:

Facebook is where criminals go to get caught.

Related Resources:

  • Utah gunman, Jason Valdez updates Facebook status during 16-hour hostage standoff with police (Daily News)
  • Facebook Burglar Posts His Photo on Victim’s Facebook Wall (FindLaw’s Legally Weird)
  • Facebook Status Updates Lead to Arrest (FindLaw Blotter)
  • Teens Arrested for Facebook Death Threats (FindLaw Blotter)

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