Former roommate of alleged Boston bomber seeks release

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — The defense and the government have filed a joint court motion that asks a judge to release one of the friends of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev from federal custody while awaiting trial.

Robel Phillipos is scheduled to have a probable cause and detention hearing Monday after his arrest last week on charges of lying to investigators looking into the Boston Marathon bombings.

The 19-year-old University of Massachusetts Dartmouth student faces a maximum of eight years in prison if convicted.

Authorities say he lied to investigators about visiting Tsarnaev’s dorm room three days after the bombings.

The parties say in the court motion that they agree to home confinement and monitoring with an electronic bracelet, along with a $100,000 bond.

A magistrate judge is expected to consider the request during the afternoon hearing.