Jake Mitchell

Yesterday, The Boxing Lesson drummer Jake Mitchell began serving a 60 month sentence in federal prison for his role in a marijuana growing operation.If you think 60 months seems like a long time for growing pot, you're right.

Federal officials labeled Mitchell a Narco-terrorist which brought stricter sentencing guidelines and denied spousal privilege to his wife.She is currently in jail for refusing to testify against her husband.Granted, Mitchell has admitted to having a role in the marijuana operation.However it's the terrorist label that most people have a problem with.Do you think the Feds have a true Narco-terrorist on their hands?

From a band press release:

It is obvious from anyone who has ever met, hung out with and gotten to know Jake Mitchell that he is anything but a terrorist.This incorrect and unfair branding on our own US citizen and friend, Jake Mitchell, is a disgrace and this has caused untypical hardships on his life.He has sold his house, lost his cars, and his freedom.We are asking our friends in the media, in bands, in t-shirt screen shops and really, anyone who can help, to send the message of his story to the public eye.

Jaylinn Davidson and Jake Mitchell share the exact same birthday and an affinity for synths, sampling and improvisation.
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Jaylinn Davidson's Brian Eno-esque Moog synthesizer landscapes pump these haunting songs full of moody goodness and we find Jake Mitchell, as always, in the ether drumming out of his head.
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The band is heartbroken that their founding drummer, Jake Mitchell, was sentenced to federal prison in 2008 for conspiracy to manufacture marijuana.
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Jake Mitchell: Drums, Samples Visit The Boxing Lesson at:

Jake Mitchell, the drummer for Austin's Boxing Lesson, was sentenced a couple of weeks ago to 60 months in federal prison on marijuana charges. What makes Mitchell's case particularly unsettling is that he was charged under the Patriot Act and has been branded a Narco-Terrorist. The band went public with the details today as Mitchell prepares to begin his sentence early next month, hoping to raise awareness of his case for the pending appeal and help support him and his family as they have lost everything.

Jake Mitchell, the drummer for Austin's Boxing Lesson, was sentenced a couple of weeks ago to 60 months in federal prison on marijuana charges. What makes Mitchell's case particularly unsettling is that he was charged under the Patriot Act and has been branded a Narco-Terrorist. The band went public with the details today as Mitchell prepares to begin his sentence early next month, hoping to raise awareness of his case for the pending appeal and help support him and his family as they have lost everything. And the details only get more distressing.

According to the Boxing Lesson's publicist, Ryan Cano, Mitchell's wife is currently serving a six month sentence as a conspirator for not turning her husband in. While Cano acknowledges that the operation Mitchell was running out of his house in 2006 was certainly much more elaborate than a simple case of his growing pot for personal use, the fact that he was charged, and sentenced, under Patriot Act laws that have essentially branded him a domestic terrorist seems particularly ludicrous and disheartening.

Below is a message sent out by Cano concerning Mitchell's and the band's circumstances:

You know The Boxing Lesson aren't ones to keep their mouths shut after several interviews and appearances since the release of their full length LP Wild Streaks & Windy Days. The real truth of the matter is that The Boxing Lesson have kept one of the most important parts of their story a secret. It is with much sadness we make this announcement but its time the public knows what is going on.

Jake Mitchell, drummer for The Boxing Lesson and most importantly, a dear friend, will be put in Federal jail at the beginning of Sept for some marijuana growing charges. What makes this story unique and what has enraged every single one of our close friends, is that Jake has been branded by our government as a Terrorist under the Patriot Act. In fact, they have thrown the Narco-Terrorist tag on him.
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It is obvious from anyone who has ever met, hung out with and gotten to know Jake Mitchell that he is anything but a terrorist. This incorrect and unfair branding on our own US citizen and friend, Jake Mitchell, is a disgrace and this has caused untypical hardships on his life. He has sold his house, lost his cars, and his freedom… We know there was a crime involved but branding him a terrorist has set unfair sentencing guidelines on a person who is anything but a terrorist.
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We love you Jake! FREE JAKE
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Under these anti-terror conspiracy laws, Jake's 'first time offense' status is meaningless. This should have been a probation and fine situation. Clearly. There are real criminals out there on probation and walking the streets who are a real danger to the community. It disgusts me that people like Jake Mitchell are being locked behind bars because of some weed.
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Jake is the kind of person you can trust with anything. He was actually doing mankind a favor. He wouldn't hurt a fly. The complete opposite of a terrorist.
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No, I've never met Jake, but I've known Paul, the lead singer, for almost a decade, he is 100% pro-America and he would never associate with someone who was funding terrorists.
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I guarantee you journalists are calling me, Jake and his lawyer and I thank everyone for continuing to comment, repost this link and spread the word. The response has been positive as people are rightfully outraged. We just want to help spread the story and hopefully help Jake pay some legal fees. Luckily, Jake was allowed representation and his lawyer has been contact by journalist at the Statesmen and the Austin Chronicle I believe. Anyone can help by donating money to Jake and spreading the word. I will say for the record that I am not a lawyer but to my understanding Jake constitutional rights were taken away from the Patriot Act and they government used it to bypass laws to make an illegal search and seizure "legal". And his lovely wife has had her spousal protections taken away due to this. So much for the sanctity of marriage and so much for our civil liberties.

Jake has been giving interviews so I hope that his words will give more detail to this truly aweful and un-American story.
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We also hope to speak to Mitchell later this week, which we will share as soon as possible.
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I hope the media picks this up and more people are outraged by the crazy shit our government is pulling and Jake gets a lighter or hopefully no sentence.

Update on Jake Mitchell and Interview
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The response to last week's news that the Boxing Lesson's drummer, Jake Mitchell, had been convicted on marijuana charges has been overwhelming and rightfully outraged, but we now have more details on his case and some important corrections to the original press release. Contrary to our initial information, Mitchell was NOT charged under the Patriot Act, and has not been branded a "narco-terrorist." His appeal against his 60 month sentence and conviction for both manufacturing and conspiracy to manufacture over 100 marijuana plants is, however, focused on the questionable tactics by the Austin Police Department in pursuing their sting operation against Mitchell, namely the un-warranted use of drug dogs outside of the house and, as the Chronicle reports today, the controversial policy of the APD using utility information to spot potential illegal operations.

So, to be clear, Mitchell has not been convicted as a narco-terrorist, but his case still very much highlights the expanded and circumspect authority that has been granted in pursuing such convictions, as Mitchell mentions below. Mitchell begins his sentence next Wednesday, and appeal is pending, but you can show your support tonight as Mitchell and the Boxing Lesson play a benefit for Monkeywrench Books at the Carousel Lounge. We spoke to Mitchell yesterday about the situation, and excerpts from that interview are below.

Interview with Jake Mitchell
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Jake Mitchell: Yeah, she's doing exceptionally well, considering. It's kind of bizarre, because the facility she is in is minimum security, and I personally don't see why she would have to go to some place like that and why they couldn't just home monitor her.
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I'm proud of Jake for standing up and letting the community know how the marijuana laws are stacked against them.
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Well said Jake!
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I just want to add on to what Paul said and that I am proud of Jake telling everyone his story. Along the way Jake found minor news that was good (he's not a terrorist!) but was still in the end treated as one by having his constitutional rights taken away. Its an election year and many of your leaders begging for your vote will promise change and here is one area we need to change amongst many. Lots of damage was done the past 8 yrs and we need to turn it back around in our favor. Protections for your home rights, enforcing the constitution and generally having big government out your personal affairs are issues that are affecting us all. The fact remains, for a first time offender receiving this harsh sentence is unacceptable and fowl and that Jake still has lost his home, his vehicles and his lovely wife is still in jail and he still needs help.
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As a matter of fact, I am already supporting Jake Mitchell. I, as most of you reading this, pay taxes that in turn pay for Jake Mitchell's sentence term and well-being (housing, food, medical, clothing, air conditioning). Really, think about it. He owes the general public something because this stuff isn't free.
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Maybe you should feel sympathetic because the issue is about the constitutional right of Jake, not the illegal manner. Jake did something wrong and so did the goverment.
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Actually…I don't care about Jake Mitchell or any of your silly comments. I am just playing the devil's advocate and flamebaiting. Go ahead, supporters of criminal acts, flame on (and get stuck in IH-35 traffic for all i care)! I support the fact that Jake Mitchell is a convicted felon and he should use his sentence of incarceration to obtain a law degree to assist you when you get arrested for doing the same.

Oh, Shane…please define what constitutional right Jake has.
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If you don't like hearing about support for Jake Mitchell, maybe you should surf the internet elsewhere. Why would you waste your time and energy posting on this site, where it's obvious that everyone else on it supports Jake. Life is too short dude. Relax. By the way, Jake is incarcerated in a Federal Prison Camp and those facilities don't offer any education except a GED program and some trade skills.
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If you don't like hearing about no-support for Jake Mitchell, maybe you should surf the internet elsewhere.
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Why would you waste your time and energy posting on this site, where it's obvious that everyone else on it supports Jake
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Using this forum where friends and supporters of Jake, and god-forbid, marijuana, go to speak their mind as your personal anti-marijuana-and-all-the-heathens-that-have-anything-to-do-with-it soapbox only makes you look like a moron.
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I see you have spent all morning playing " the devil's advocate" and NOT supporting the cause to free my friend Jake. Well done.
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You are correct when you stated that I am not suporting the cause to free your friend, Jake Mitchell. Yet I find it a little prejudiced for you to easily label someone as uncaring, unhappy, and incapable of compassion. That is your opinion and you are free voice it.

Unfortunately, Jake has stated in this interview that he did something wrong. Knowledge is an element of crime. It has been published. He cannot take it back.

Furthermore, if he went to a Federal Magistrate Court (I am unsure as this involves APD-local/state vs. federal if TOT DEA) he either pleaded guilty or not guilty to his charges at that point. If not guilty his case went to a grand jury for indictment (this is a panel of your peers to determine probable cause to return an indictment - this is why everyone needs to serve). He then went to court and something occurred to return a guilty finding. He either didn't fight it well or the jury of your peers found him guilty based upon evidence and testimony.

So…it doesn't matter if the his arrest ultimately led to protecting me. Mr. Mitchell claims that this was a victimless crime. I don't know if he was distributing his stuff to kids or not because I haven't read any findings in this particular case. Being creatures of habit…almost everyone proclaims that they "didn't know" , or are innocent of a certain aspect of the crime that would lead them to be set free somehow. Ignorance of the law is also no excuse yet is almost always stated by defendants. The bottom line is that there is a law that was broken and Mr. Mitchell confessed to it and he now has to serve a sentence and because of that he (or you) should be appealing is a reduction in his sentence term.

In conclusion, the fight to "Free Jake Mitchell" is mostly heroic and based on emotion but it is probably ineffectual. I reiterate that jail is a punishment and it is supposed to suck. Yet, If there were somehow a fruit of a poisonous tree leading to Mr. Mitchell's arrest which would allow him to be set free - then so be it.
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I had no knowledge of Jake Mitchell and his problems until The Loyalty Firm responded/deleted a YouTube text comment that I posted while I was looking for Moog related videos.
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I don't like Jake. He is still in jail and probably feels like crap.

Update on Jake Mitchell and Interview
...
The response to last week's news that the Boxing Lesson's drummer, Jake Mitchell, had been convicted on marijuana charges has been overwhelming and rightfully outraged, but we now have more details on his case and some important corrections to the original press release. Contrary to our initial information, Mitchell was NOT charged under the Patriot Act, and has not been branded a "narco-terrorist." His appeal against his 60 month sentence and conviction for both manufacturing and conspiracy to manufacture over 100 marijuana plants is, however, focused on the questionable tactics by the Austin Police Department in pursuing their sting operation against Mitchell, namely the un-warranted use of drug dogs outside of the house and, as the " target=" blank">Chronicle reports today, the controversial policy of the APD using utility information to spot potential illegal operations.

So, to be clear, Mitchell has not been convicted as a narco-terrorist, but his case still very much highlights the expanded and circumspect authority that has been granted in pursuing such convictions, as Mitchell mentions below. Mitchell begins his sentence next Wednesday, and appeal is pending, but you can show your support tonight as Mitchell and the Boxing Lesson play a benefit for Monkeywrench Books at the Carousel Lounge. We spoke to Mitchell yesterday about the situation, and excerpts from that interview are below.
...
Jake Mitchell, the drummer for Austin's Boxing Lesson, was sentenced a couple of weeks ago to 60 months in federal prison on marijuana charges. What makes Mitchell's case particularly unsettling is that he was charged under the Patriot Act and has been branded a Narco-Terrorist. The band went public with the details today as Mitchell prepares to begin his sentence early next month, hoping to raise awareness of his case for the pending appeal and help support him and his family as they have lost everything.

Best Drummer: Jake Mitchell, "The Boxing Lesson"

http://www.thedailyswarm.com/headlines/austin-drummer-jailed-narco-terroris
t/ Jake Mitchell, the drummer for Austin's Boxing Lesson, was sentenced a couple of weeks ago to 60 months in federal prison on marijuana charges.What makes Mitchell's case particularly unsettling is that he was charged under the Patriot Act and has been branded a Narco-Terrorist.The band went public with the details today as Mitchell prepares to begin his sentence early next month, hoping to raise awareness of his case for the pending appeal and help support him and his family as they have lost everything.