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Retaliation Against Witness Charges for Daniel Sands
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.- Daniel Sands, a Knoxville man, has been arrested and charged with engaging in conduct with the intent to retaliate against a witness who testified against his father in an official court proceeding in U.S. District Court.
According to a complaint filed on November 20, 2015, Sands sent a threatening instant message to the witness via Facebook messenger on the evening of November 17, 2015. The message was allegedly a response to the witness’s testimony earlier that day in the trial of U.S. v. Leonard Sands.
The affidavit filed with the complaint details four Facebook posts made by Sands on November 19, 2015, in which he posted indirect threats of violence to ‘snitches.’ The posts have been included as attachments to the affidavit.
The investigation into the case is being led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cynthia Davidson and Jennifer Kolman are representing the United States.
At an initial appearance held before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Bruce Guyton on November 20, 2015, the government requested that Sands be detained pending trial. Sands agreed to waive his right to a detention hearing and will remain in custody until a preliminary hearing scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on December 2, 2015, in U.S. District Court.
Sands is accused of attempting to intimidate the witness in an effort to influence the outcome of his father’s trial. If convicted, he faces serious consequences and a potential lengthy prison sentence.
A complaint constitutes only a charge and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Members of the public are reminded of this principle as the case against Sands moves forward.
Key Facts
- State: Tennessee
- Category: Violent Crime|Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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