One of the options for a North Dakota resident accused of a crime is to plead guilty and hope for a lessened sentence. In many cases, entering a guilty plea may result in less prison time or other penalties that may be more favorable than those a judge might rule if the defendant pled innocent. It is not possible to predict the outcome of a criminal case, which is why it is so important for someone accused of a serious charge, such as a sexual crime, to have efficient representation.
Most people are aware by now of the high-profile case involving the former spokesman of the Subway sandwich chain, Jared Fogle. After a police raid on his home in July, he was accused of receiving and distributing child pornography and participating in illegal sexual conduct with minors. He has agreed to pay $1.4 million to 14 alleged minor victims in the case, as well as to plead guilty for the crimes.
Mr. Fogle faces prison time of up to 12 1/2 years under the terms of his plea. In a hearing scheduled later this month, a judge will review the case and can either accept or deny his plea bargain. However, many people are not happy with the potential results of the deal. Some have written letters to the judge saying his sentence should be harsher and include more prison time. Regardless of a defendant’s innocence or actual involvement in a crime, both sides of a trial should be fairly and thoroughly represented.
Source: Fox 59, “‘Jared should be put away for a long time’: Letters call for judge to reject Jared Fogle’s plea deal,” Matt Adams, Nov. 5, 2015
