Search Results: local groups

There's a recent story about a Virginia man who was recruited and spent time with ISIS. However he realized he didn't want to be in the group, fled to Iraq and Kurdish fighters willingly allowed himself be turned into US law enforcement.

He will soon go to trial. He was offered various plea deals, all of which included jail time, but has pled not guilty. He was apparently just a gopher who cooked meals, cleaned and did grocery shopping among other things. When asked to be a suicide bomber he said no and soon left the group.
His defense attorney have stated:
"“When a young person makes a stupid and naive decision, we will ask that he be allowed to change his mind before any harm occurs.”

On one hand i can see a definite reason for punishment as, even though he personally never harmed anyone, he did during his time aid (in some small way) to the terrorist effort... similar to aiding and abetting criminal activity or being an accomplice
However, on the other hand i wonder if a guilty verdict would deter others people in radical Islam from leaving it knowing that they will be punished even if they haven't personally harmed anyone.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/what-happens-when-you-join-the-islamic-state--then-change-your-mind/2017/05/31/1f002088-454b-11e7-a196-a1bb629f64cb_story.html?utm_term=.5b7a0b162d14