When you choose an action, you choose the consequences of that action.
And when you choose to associate with violent felons, you choose to associate with their violent crimes.
The story says that the other conspirators, with the exception of the 17-year-old, face the death penalty. Unfortunately NC hasn’t executed anyone in a long time.

Interesting how the ‘story’ keeps changing isn’t it… And yeah, you DO get that association whether you want it or not!