Treason Sentence: Mainstream

"Treason." The sentence echoed in the courtroom. He sagged, defeated. He'd never considered that they might actually find him guilty of...treason. A little embezzlement, yes. Some inappropriate actions. He'd expected to have to resign, to maybe be censured. He hadn't expected a death sentence to suddenly be hanging around his neck. Treason had only one punishment. He wasn't even guilty! That was the oddest thing. Of so many charges that they could have brought, of which he would be entirely guilty, they had chosen the one crime that he hadn't committed. He loved his country. He loved the freedom to misbehave that it gave him, the rules that were observed more in the inaction--

Inspiration: The name of a French government officer executed for treason.
Story Potential: Low.
Notes: Low story potential, but I do like the idea of a character who is entirely disreputable, and not even in a lovable-rogue sort of way, who has to escape and clear his name or at least set up camp on a small island in Bermuda.