AWA Pilot's trial comes to an end...the tug driver did it!

[FN FAL]

A plea agreement does not always entail an admission of guilt.

And a plea agreement does not have to be agreed to by a judge.

My last professor is a lawyer up in the Fond Du Lac area, one of her clients made a plea agreement with a prosecutor regarding shoplifting charges. Sounds like a done deal, right. No...on the day of the trial, the prosecutor majically shows up with a video tape from one of the store's security cameras and wants a trial and wants the tape included as evidence. Judge decides to not accept the plea bargain after the tape is reviewed, plea agreement is off, the trial is on and be dammed with the rule of 'discovery'.

How the heck are you supposed to defend your client against evidence that is presented THAT day in court...you can't. The client got 90 days more than what the plea entailed and will appeal. Chances are she's going to probably run this one up the state appelate court and get it thrown out. Then the ding dong prosecutor with the tape will appeal that and it will wind up in the federal courts of last resort. Just what I want to do as a taxpayer is spend 150,000 bucks on trials for shoplifting, when they could have worked it out at the plea agreement level.

You guys have a story book perception of prosecutors and cops like they are paul freaking bunyan or something. I'm telling you, cops lie and prosecutors lie...In fact, one cop's quote to me, "Whoever tells the best lie in court, wins!"

 

[Vector4fun]

You guys have a story book perception of prosecutors and cops like they are paul freaking bunyan or something. I'm telling you, cops lie and prosecutors lie...In fact, one cop's quote to me, "Whoever tells the best lie in court, wins!"

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/09/26/60minutes/main575291.shtml


Those of you who haven't heard of Tulia, TX. really need to read this story. I've followed it in a half-dozen publications, and if anything, the whole story is actually worse than CBS makes it sound.


I have nothing but respect for Peace Officers. It's a dangerous, difficult job. On the other hand though, I don't know that I could ever vote to convict a man of a serious crime without some corroborating evidence beyond a Cop or Prosecutor's word. There can be some pretty good incentive for them to lie. That's "reasonable doubt".

 

[FN FAL]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/09/26/60minutes/main575291.shtml


Those of you who haven't heard of Tulia, TX. really need to read this story. I've followed it in a half-dozen publications, and if anything, the whole story is actually worse than CBS makes it sound.


I have nothing but respect for Peace Officers. It's a dangerous, difficult job. On the other hand though, I don't know that I could ever vote to convict a man of a serious crime without some corroborating evidence beyond a Cop or Prosecutor's word. There can be some pretty good incentive for them to lie. That's "reasonable doubt".

Not to mention all the death row inmates and other convicts that have released because of DNA tests.

Here's anothe recent gem...from texas no less...

Former Texas Sheriff Charged in Conspiracy

By LYNN BREZOSKY
Associated Press Writer

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) -- A scandal-plagued former sheriff has been charged with leading a criminal enterprise while in office that included extortion, drug trafficking and witness tampering, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.

The indictment alleges that the enterprise led by former Cameron County Sheriff Conrado Cantu netted tens of thousands of dollars, offering information about investigations and protection to drug traffickers and operators of an illegal gambling operation.

In addition, the indictment says one of the defendants once told a convicted drug dealer that Cantu would charge $50,000 to allow him to escape if he ended up in his jurisdiction.

"It is a blow to honest law enforcement when one of its own is accused of corrupting his office and abusing the public's trust," FBI Agent Patrick A. Patterson said.Cantu was arrested Wednesday, and will remain in jail until his arraignment Monday.

"He thinks that this is a witch hunt," Cantu's attorney, Alberto Pullen, said Thursday. "There is just not enough evidence to convict him of all the charges."

Four others were named in the indictment, including two who worked with Cantu at the sheriff's department in Cameron County, located on the border with Mexico.

Cantu is charged with eight counts, including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana, extortion, money laundering, obstruction and being a member of a criminal enterprise engaged in a pattern of racketeering activity. The other men face similar charges.

At one point, the sheriff's department allegedly seized $25,000 in purported drug proceeds from a truck driven by a government informant. One of the defendants told the informant that police in Brownsville "helped" traffickers and that Cantu wanted money in exchange for protection.

Cantu served four years as sheriff starting in 2001, and his term was marked by allegations of corruption along with a series of jail escapes and missing inmate funds.

He was indicted last year on charges he misused authority by rallying support for his re-election bid during a mandatory jailhouse meeting. A judge dismissed the charge in March.

Cantu, a Democrat, lost the 2004 primary election. He had been hoping to rejoin law enforcement as a deputy constable, but county commissioners postponed a vote on the appointment last week.

The extortion, money laundering and racketeering charges carry a maximum punishment of 20 years in federal prison. The obstruction charge carries a maximum sentence of five years, and the drug charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

 

[joe_pilot]

Why not put portable breath analysers at the screening locations. After all, if real men have nothing to hide, they shouldn't mind taking the test.

Come on FN, please tell me that was a tounge-in-cheek remark. Please tell me you aren't willing to take it that far.