why might a person plead guilty to a crime they didn't do?

[dsc]

I admit to being mystified that so many here can't figure out why a person would plea to a crime he didn't commit. Clearly, I am referring to the Craig case. Let me say several things. First, sex in public restrooms is both nasty and should be illegal. Secondly, Craig, no matter what happened in that restroom, is a hypocrite who is underserving of public office. But these sting operations have a terrible history. Gay men have repeatedly been entrapped in these stings and faced with the choice of pleaing to a misdemeanor that usually has no sexual aspect or a trial on a misdemeanor or worse felony with a sexual aspect they choose the plea. Just how many locales feature juries who would believe a gay man over a cop? Would you want to face a jury, with no gays, your word against a cops, over a charge like this? Add in the cost of a lawyer and the very real possibility of a life time reporting requirement if convicted, and that guilty plea looks a lot more inviting. I will tell you flat out. Had I been arrested in a Mississippi restroom on that charge, I wouldn't have been guilty but I nearly certainly would have pled. I can't imagine any senario where my word would be taken over that of a cop on that issue, in that state.

I can't say Craig is innocent. But I will say, I can sure see why someone would plead guilty in that senario innocent or not.

[BeFree]

1. But

Craig is not innocent.... next thread.

[Mr. Ected]

2. Different Players; Different Scenario

I can't be sure, but I assume you are not a U.S. Senator.

Senator Craig could have hired a legal team that would have made O.J. Simpson jealous.

He could have fought this tooth and nail.

In this case, the SENATOR would have been the dominant party; the police officer the party upon whom doubt should be cast.

Make no mistake; had Larry Craig been ABLE to plead innocent and fight the charges, he would have done so in a heartbeat.

And based on the flimsy case of the prosecution, I suspect there was more going on than meets the eye.

[dsc]

4. Actually I probably would have had a pretty good legal team myself

I was involved in a program in MS where we were pretty well connected. My roommate's dad was a partner at one of the top law firms in the state and had worked on civil rights cases for years. Though I wouldn't have had a Senator's stature.

[Disturbed]

7. Craig lied about not seeking an Attorney's advice.

He did so but decided, no doubt upon his Attorney's advice, to plead this out. A trial would have been a real circus & he would have been found guilty. He was hoping that this case would have been ignored. He was delusional in that hope. At 1st he thought that he could intimidate the Police Officer by showing him his business card that said US Senator. When that didn't work he tried to talk his way out of any charges. The Police Officer didn't agree with the lame excuses & lies, so Craig decided to end the matter by agreeing to plead guilty, pay the $500 fine & receive one year Probation.

[Jed Dilligan]

3. I've pled out of several bogus charges

just because I can't afford a trial timewise or moneywise. It happens every day, and not just to racial or gender minorities.

[kestrel91316]

5. I would NEVER plead guilty to a crime that I knew I had not committed.

NEVER. Not in a million years. If for no other reason than that such a plea would be perjury.

And that's completely aside from my innocence.

[Mr. Ected]

6. It Was A Death Sentence for the Senator...and He Knew It

The plea was made because the publicity of a trial would have put the Repukes in the spotlight yet again. The plea was the lesser of two evils...but both spelled the end of Senator Craig's career.

His attempts to dignify himself at the end are pathetic and self-serving...and needlessly put the Republicans in the very spotlight they hoped to avoid.

Poetic justice.

[mondo joe]

8. Then he's guilty of perjury.

:shrug:

[dsc]

9. under that standard any plea bargain is perjury

Clearly he didn't commit the exact crime he was charged with, as nearly no one who plea bargains does, so saying he did would be perjury under that standard.

[mondo joe]

10. Good point!

I'd still say, no matter what, he broke the law. He was either doing what he was originally charged with, or he was doing what he was actually charged with.

[KoKo]

11. While I undrestand what you say...I still don't see how Craig get's a Pass

on this. I don't see anything in your post that could help us understand why Craig was targetet in a Sting Operation.

In Bush America...Craig showing his "Senator Business Card" should have meant the officer in charge would immediately BOW DOWN and LET HIM GO!

That this Police Officer did his Job and is now being ATTACKED as someone who was "after Craig" in some "Sting Witch Hunt" and that Craig didn't do anything but it's the OFFICER'S FAULT...makes me wonder what Party you belong to?

Why are you here if you think that some poor Cop who makes nothing in Salary compaired to Craig and has NO Credibility compared to Craig would have sat there on the toilet WAITING to Entrap him...when he knew he could be FIRED FOR GOING AFTER POPULAR LONG DECADES SERVING IDAHO SENATOR!

I don't know many folks making "nothing" in salary who would do this? The Police Officer opened himself up to villification by the Republicans AND the WHORE CORPORATE MEDIA! He will NEVER WORK AGAIN!

But...he was doing his job...just like the rest of us little Americans are trying to do OURS...and you trash him and say Craig was caught IN A STING?

You have GOT TO BE ...well ...Kidding? :shrug:

[dsc]

14. Craig wasn't specificly targetted, anymore than any one black person is targetted for DWB

but many gays have been arrested for basicly PWG (pissing while gay). Craig wasn't targetted speficly but closeted gay men surely have been as a class in these stings.

[KoKo]

15. Respectfully...I feel you are lumping what's been "done"to gays in the past with Craig

and throwing the Baby out with Bath Water. Making Craig an EXAMPLE of CRIMES against GAYS would seem to be a stretch of comparison.

What Craig Incident has EXPOSED FOR ALL TO SEE...is the HYPOCRACY in the WAY that Gays have been TREATED in the Military and in their lifetyle in current American Politics.

Craig is the BEST OPPORTUNITY for GAYS to SHOW the TERRIBLE HYPOCRACY of how they are treated. A Senator who is "Closeted" and has voted against GAY RIGHTS for Decades...is now FOUND TO BE SOLICITING IN BATHROOMS FOR SEX FROM MEN!

Instead the Gay Movement now wants to use Craig as an "Example" for what they've suffered all these years!

It seems to me that THIS is as Hypocritical of the Gay Movement as it is of Craig that the Gay Movement would DEFEND a guy who villified you and voted against every Gay Rights Amendment in the mistaken "Group Think" that Defending Craig is Defending WHAT? Are you saying it's defending the right for Gay Bathroom Sex which offends most Americans and even the ones who SIDE WITH YOU on most Gay Right's Issues?

I got called a hater of gays, blacks and Asians by a Gay DU'er i've been close to on this DU site FOR YEARS.... because I asked this question... I lost a person I admired and felt was a person of incredible reason and sensibility who ATTACKED me because I tried to say much of what I said in my posts to you.

You have to understand that you will LOSE WHAT YOU GAINED if you lose the Heterosexual Community that Supports you if you ATTACK THEM and LUMP THEM IN WITH REPUG HYPOCRITS who have DONE DIRT TO YOU and WILL CONTINUE TO...

Nevermind...you wouldn't want to hear what I say...or listen. Your agenda is "All or Nothing."

Peace...

[dsc]

17. this isn't some old long ago thing

Gays to this day get entrapped in these stings. I have been in an awful lot of public restrooms in my day and have never once been propositioned in any way, shape or form. Yet I have known several men arrested in these stings. This is a way for police departments and judges to get easy money.

[uppityperson]

12. I have pled guilty when not.

I pled guilty to a speeding ticket once even though I didn't think I was speeding because it was cheaper and faster for me to pay the fine than take the day off work, go to court, have to testify against a police officer who would swear I was speeding. After all, I was only a 22 yr old and who would they believe? So I said I did it and paid.

[lligrd]

13. Happens All The Time

Plea bargains were invented to get people the prosecuters weren't sure they could convict.

[soothsayer]

16. like the jon benet ramsey guy?