Andy Reid's Sons Plead 'Not Guilty'

[foghorn]

I imagine there's some technicality Reid's lawyers came up with.http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20070419_Andy_Reids_sons_plead_not_guilty.html

[Marcus Garvey]

I imagine there's some technicality Reid's lawyers came up with.http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20070419_Andy_Reids_sons_plead_not_guilty.html

Not necessarily. This was a pre-trial hearing. If you don't have a plea agreement in place with the prosecutor, pleaing "guilty" opens you up to have the book thrown at you. At this point, the defense attorneys will do what they can to make the sentance as light as possible. No point throwing yourself at the mercy of the court needlessly.

I had a coworker plead guilty at an arraignment for "exhibition of speed" once. The judge was surprised and asked him to reconsider. To this day, I think he was dumb not to hire a lawyer.

[ngineer]

Yes, Marcus--unless you have already negotiated the plea, you ALWAYS plead 'not guilty' at the initial arraignment. During the course of the subsequent preliminary hearing, discovery, etc., all sorts of 'little information' can come to light that can effect the strength or weakness of the various charges. Many times a good number of the charges overlap and the prosecutors need to determine which ones they are willing to jetison in exchange for a plea. If there is going to be a plea--I would expect it to occur in the summer.

[Marcus Garvey]

Yes, Marcus--unless you have already negotiated the plea, you ALWAYS plead 'not guilty' at the initial arraignment. During the course of the subsequent preliminary hearing, discovery, etc., all sorts of 'little information' can come to light that can effect the strength or weakness of the various charges. Many times a good number of the charges overlap and the prosecutors need to determine which ones they are willing to jetison in exchange for a plea. If there is going to be a plea--I would expect it to occur in the summer.

Amen. Sometimes I wish I had gone to law school. I'd specialize in DUI defense. I think you can make a nice living on that alone.

[UNHWildCats]

GUILTY

Throw away the key