Material Witnesses

Amid all of the turmoil was the frightening experience of a bewildered lawyer from Portland, who grew more and more panicked that his fate was being sealed and there was nothing he could do about it. "That's not my fingerprint, your honor," a baffled Mr. Mayfield said at one point to the judge during a hearing after his arrest, pleading not to be taken to jail. "I have never seen this bag. I have no awareness about that bag."

A cautionary tale. Combine aggressive prosecutorial tactics, abuse of material witness warrants, incompetent FBI techniques, and an atmosphere of guilt by association reminiscent of the Red scares of the 40s/50s and you get the case of Brandon Mayfield.