Facebook alibi saves jailed teen

By ERIN CALABRESE

Last Updated: 10:49 AM, November 12, 2009

Posted: 2:36 AM, November 12, 2009

Comments: 38

Pass the syrup -- this lucky guy is eating breakfast at home instead of on Rikers Island.

A Brooklyn teen's playful Facebook message to his pregnant girlfriend about pancakes sprung him from jail and helped him avoid years in prison for a holdup he didn't commit.

Prosecutors dropped a robbery charge against Rodney Bradford, 19, after learning his Facebook account status had been updated with the inside joke "WHERE MY IHOP?" from a computer in his dad's Harlem apartment one minute before an Oct. 17 stickup of two men in Brooklyn's Farragut Houses.

RODNEY BRADFORD At B'klyn home yesterday.

"They had me on Rikers Island for 12 days. It was really miserable," Bradford told The Post last night.

"If it wasn't for Facebook I'd still be on Rikers Island."

His joyful stepmom, Ernestine Bradford, agreed, saying. "Facebook saved my son," she said. "Normally, we yell at our kids, 'Oh, you're on the computer!" It's completely different. If it wasn't for Facebook, my son wouldn't be here."

The electronic fingerprints from Bradford's Facebook posting backed up multiple witnesses who said he was at his dad's home that day, and knocked down a victim's claim that he recognized one of the robbers as Bradford, who lives in Farragut Houses.

"This was just a very strong alibi," said Bradford's lawyer, Robert Reuland. "It reflects the pervasiveness that Web sites and social networking has on our lives."

Additional reporting by Alex Ginsberg

erin.calabrese@nypost.com

Comments (21)

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Mr.Nice

11/16/2009 3:46 AM

Queenskid is a well known internet wacko with a very low IQ. He's just jealous of Bush.
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Scott from LI

11/12/2009 1:22 PM

Queenskid nothing like a little partisianship to shake up an otherwise dull Thursday afternoon eh??
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fofyve

11/12/2009 12:23 PM

Retired,

you can't say for certain if Bush took the test. the grades may have been doctored. can someone point me to ANY of Bushe's academic papers...just one maybe? kinda like trying to find someone who served with him in the military. what a joke.
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fofyve

11/12/2009 12:11 PM

Ridiculous.

"electronic fingerprints from Bradford's Facebook posting backed up multiple witnesses".

Multiple witnesses were basically viewed as liars until a Facebook posting "corroborated" what they said. And I seriously doubt one of the victims identified Mr. Bradford. A witness identifying a suspect would hold more weight than a Facebook posting and a victim would demand justice if he/she was sure he could ID the assailant. What gives.
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Kristen

11/12/2009 12:09 PM

Queenskid isn't interested in facts or even the truth; just likes to spew his racist attitudes as part of his/her ignorance. What about the drugs your Obamanation has taken? You're just continuing to look for a handout and avoid responsibility. You pathetic loser.
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Marquis Green

11/12/2009 11:28 AM

Scott from LI - I agree with you. Logic escapes most people on this board.
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Retired

11/12/2009 11:25 AM

Queenskid
GWB had a pre-1974 SAT score of 1206. That equates to a 125 to 129 IQ. Sorry, just that facts.
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Scott from LI

11/12/2009 11:21 AM

Some pretty stupid coments below, one saying he must be guilty of another crime if not this one -- that's just disgusting you should be ashamed to pass judgement on a stranger so willingly. But then again you betray your own pathetic state in that comment, so, you suffer enough already perhaps.

as for why the attorney didnt provide this facebook evidence, divert your attention to the portion of the story where it's revealed multiple witnesses also have his alibi backed up.

im getting really tired of the racists on this board. yes i am white