[hamai]

His "crimes"[1] were not worthy being intimidated with a 35 year old sentence. In any sane society this young man could've done community work(if guilty). A sane society would like to use his skills to teach at schools or something, not throw him in a hell-on-earth prison system were humans are disposable.

The justice system can be a game[2], strong players have it their way, and the seminal work by Aaron's "Demand Progress" was a direct affront to very strong players. As Thomas Jefferson wrote, "the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs", and tragic events like these are what move people in one direction and make things change. His mental state is secondary to the injustice he suffered.

[1] http://unhandled.com/2013/01/12/the-truth-about-aaron-swartz... [2] http://www.forbes.com/sites/harveysilverglate/2013/01/03/bla...