On another thread, a FReeper wrote this was no big deal, because Justin Carter could bail out and still had the right to a trial by jury. I think that FReeper is hopelessly naive. As I understand it, the bail in this case was set incredibly high. Plus, going through a trial is hit or miss even when one is clearly innocent (case in point, Zimmerman trial).
The government can make your life a living hell. It has virtually unlimited resources, and the full weight of the bureaucratic state can come down on you even if you’re innocent.
I had this conversation with people. They don’t understand what its like to be some ordinary person on the wrong side of the law. You can do nothing yet stand accused and spend years and have your nice orderly life turned inside out over nothing.
Then even if proven wrong you can try and get recompense for your troubles but that path lay through the same state that attempted to prosecute you in the first place.