Taylor should take deal

[RiggoRules]

You NEVER know what a judge and jury will do (although you have a pretty good idea what the NFL will do on a felony plea). All anyone is guaranteed is a fair process. If you are looking for truth and justice, you aren't going to find it in court.

Sure, the complaining witnesses are dope dealing liars and thieves. But you still don't know. There is at least enough evidence for the judge to allow the case to go to trial.

As much as there is talk about favorable treatment for athletes, there is also frequently harsher treatment for the rich and famous.

A four game suspension in exchange for being free for the next 40 years, I'd be pretty tempted to take the deal myself.

[warriorzpath]

Originally Posted by TAFKAS

A friend of mine once faced a similar predicament. Accept a plea and get like 6 months in jail plus one year probation or something like that. There were so many mistakes by the prosecution that he was convinced by his lawyer not to accept the plea that he would be fine.

He was wrong. He's serving 8 years now with 7 years probation. Of course, the difference is you can dispute a lot of the things that my friend did. Sean Taylor-I know nothing about what really happened.

Probably the biggest difference between your friend and Sean Taylor is Taylor's a famous athlete and has numerous fans that support him. I read in someone's post that they think the courts may be harsher with an athlete because of his celebrity status, but I tend to think that really isn't the case unless they have no doubt that the athlete is guilty and he has hurt someone in a really bad way - even then, there are cases where the athletes get off scott-free.

In the case of athletes and celebrities, I think there is a lot of hesitancy to screw-up on the part of the prosecutor, the judge, and the jury because it is high-profile and everyone is paying attention. The prosecutor probably took this case and is aggressive in getting a conviction because it is high-profile, but what he doesn't stop to think about is - if he doesn't handle this case correctly and more carefully then it has the potential to turn into unexpected and unwanted attention in the form of fan backlash and general public protest instead of the political publicity that he was seeking.

In the case of your friend's possible unfair outcome, they may have made mistakes - but no one was paying attention and to be frank, I don't think anyone really cares outside of his immediate family.

[backrow]

Originally Posted by warriorzpath

Probably the biggest difference between your friend and Sean Taylor is Taylor's a famous athlete and has numerous fans that support him.

In the case of your friend's possible unfair outcome, they may have made mistakes - but no one was paying attention and to be frank, I don't think anyone really cares outside of his immediate family.

We care, here in TheWarpath.net.

TAFKAS, I'm sure that you attempted to go to court with your friend.

Some here may be criminal Law experts, most are not, but to you, the friend, just how did the case unfold, without getting specific? Good, bad, real bad, or totally dreadful? Did it seem like he/she had a chance when it went to jury?

I'm sure that you've kept in touch. Prison doesn't neccessarily mean an end to friendship.

I'm sure that your friend is a Redskin Fan, because he/she is your friend, and you are a Huge Redskin Fan!

I hope your friend is doing ok, and is approaching the end of his/her sentance.

I also hope that you keep us posted as to your friends release.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by backrow

We care, here in TheWarpath.net.

TAFKAS, I'm sure that you attempted to go to court with your friend.

Some here may be criminal Law experts, most are not, but to you, the friend, just how did the case unfold, without getting specific? Good, bad, real bad, or totally dreadful? Did it seem like he/she had a chance when it went to jury?

I'm sure that you've kept in touch. Prison doesn't neccessarily mean an end to friendship.

I'm sure that your friend is a Redskin Fan, because he/she is your friend, and you are a Huge Redskin Fan!

I hope your friend is doing ok, and is approaching the end of his/her sentance.

I also hope that you keep us posted as to your friends release.

We do keep in touch, through letters and he phones me every now and then. I have to do a better job of writing him though. He's a big sports fan so he likes that I send him a bunch of sports related stuff. He's only into year three of his sentence.

Sadly, he's a Dolphins fan and doesn't care for the Redskins. But still he's my friend.

[backrow]

Originally Posted by TAFKAS

We do keep in touch, through letters and he phones me every now and then. I have to do a better job of writing him though. He's a big sports fan so he likes that I send him a bunch of sports related stuff. He's only into year three of his sentence.

Sadly, he's a Dolphins fan and doesn't care for the Redskins. But still he's my friend.

I think it's great that you guys write & talk!

Hopefully he can become parole eligible earlier.

I hope he sees the light while in prison, and converts to becoming a Redskin fan! I hear prison sometimes changes you completely, religiously, and otherwise!

Toughest part is getting back into work & society once the sentence is completed.

I once had a co-worker who went Postal, and killed another employee. He (the killer) and I were not friends, however. I moved onto another job, and another, and another and another, over my career. Lost contact. Never heard anything else. But it's good to stay connected with a true friend if you can.

[warriorzpath]

Originally Posted by warriorzpath

In the case of your friend's possible unfair outcome, they may have made mistakes - but no one was paying attention and to be frank, I don't think anyone really cares outside of his immediate family.

I hope that didn't sound too harsh or cold because I didn't really mean to come off that way - but that's the reality that we live in today. If you don't have your face or voice in the media somehow or aren't super rich, then you are insignificant in the eyes of others. That's my social commentary for today

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by warriorzpath

I hope that didn't sound too harsh or cold because I didn't really mean to come off that way - but that's the reality that we live in today. If you don't have your face or voice in the media somehow or aren't super rich, then you are insignificant in the eyes of others. That's my social commentary for today

No offense taken. Ironically, he is/was a sports anchor for an NBC affiliate down south. So he's a bit of a celebrity in his town. When he was waiting to go to trial he couldn't go out anywhere really because people would point and say things-so it especially would make his wife feel very uncomfortable.

[RobH4413]

Originally Posted by TAFKAS

A friend of mine once faced a similar predicament. Accept a plea and get like 6 months in jail plus one year probation or something like that. There were so many mistakes by the prosecution that he was convinced by his lawyer not to accept the plea that he would be fine.

He was wrong. He's serving 8 years now with 7 years probation. Of course, the difference is you can dispute a lot of the things that my friend did. Sean Taylor-I know nothing about what really happened.

I mean no offense or disrespect, but I think Sean Taylor's lawyers probably know the system better than your friends. I read somewhere that he has 3 of the top ten lawyers in Florida... so my guess is they know what their doing and he'll get charges dismissed or a not-guilty verdict. If you take a felony, you miss 4 games, and have a felony on your record.

Bottom line: If 3 of the top ten lawyers in the state are telling you to reject the plea because there is not enough evidence, for example... you trust them.

[paulskinsfan]

Originally Posted by RobH4413

I mean no offense or disrespect, but I think Sean Taylor's lawyers probably know the system better than your friends. I read somewhere that he has 3 of the top ten lawyers in Florida... so my guess is they know what their doing and he'll get charges dismissed or a not-guilty verdict. If you take a felony, you miss 4 games, and have a felony on your record.

Bottom line: If 3 of the top ten lawyers in the state are telling you to reject the plea because there is not enough evidence, for example... you trust them.

Are you telling me that if you were in the same position, and your lawyers were offered a deal that kept you out of jail, you would roll the dice with the rest of your life? I had a client do that once, rolled the dice when we advised him to take a deal, he got a life sentence.

[hooskins]

Originally Posted by paulskinsfan

Are you telling me that if you were in the same position, and your lawyers were offered a deal that kept you out of jail, you would roll the dice with the rest of your life? I had a client do that once, rolled the dice when we advised him to take a deal, he got a life sentence.

Except this case is a little different. ST didnt kill anyone one, he "might" have pulled a gun on other criminals. Hmm...interesting. I understand where you are going with this, but its not nearly that big of a case, and he should get off. If you look at some other cases in FL, we all know they have strict gun laws, but many have gotten off, and those are regular joes. ST will be fine, and taking a felony is the worst thing one can do. You lose certain freedoms others have, the three strike rule, it always sticks on your record, for jobs, etc. and if ST is innocent or the state doesnt have enough evidence, then why take a felony? He also has to sit out 4 games i think.

[MTK]

I trust ST's lawyers know what they're doing.

Did we really need another ST thread??

[paulskinsfan]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I trust ST's lawyers know what they're doing.

Did we really need another ST thread??

Not meaning to duplicate threads, but this one seemed different as to whether or not he should take a plea. Lock it up if you want, no skin off my back.

[paulskinsfan]

I can tell you that innocent people plead guilty to things all the time. The State will typically overcharge a Defendant. For example, lets say a little kid accuses you of abuse over a period of time, say 3 years. The State comes in and charges you with 15 felony counts, each carrying a 1-10 sentence. If a plea offer comes to you for 1 count and probation, are you going to take it or roll the dice with a jury?

[wilsowilso]

My question for one of the lawyers or law students on the board is if Taylor was to plea to a felony assault wouldn't that set him up nicely to be sued for many dollars in a Civil court?

[amorentz]

Originally Posted by wilsowilso

My question for one of the lawyers or law students on the board is if Taylor was to plea to a felony assault wouldn't that set him up nicely to be sued for many dollars in a Civil court?

If he pleads guilty then it can definitely entered into evidence against him as an admission in a civil trial. However, since there was no real injury beyond the aggrivated assault, and there is no evidence of emotional distress, he is probably not looking at a real big payout.