Felicity Huffman Pleads Guilty

[Tom Earp]

As for laura laughlins situation,

this is how the FEDs, do people who do not plead guilty and take a deal or plea, PILE EXTRA CHARGES on them!

Makes them feel a lot worse than they may feel just so they will take a plea. I did and most L E O's did. Yep, sad I know.

Hope she and hubby beat the whole mess and then spank the hell out of the TWO BRAT's she has for kids!

[navane]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

As for laura laughlins situation,

this is how the FEDs, do people who do not plead guilty and take a deal or plea, PILE EXTRA CHARGES on them!

Makes them feel a lot worse than they may feel just so they will take a plea. I did and most L E O's did. Yep, sad I know.

Hope she and hubby beat the whole mess and then spank the hell out of the TWO BRAT's she has for kids!

Tom, if they committed a crime, they committed a crime. You already know that people are offered plea deals for lesser charges in the interest of a more swift justice (for the public and/or the victims). If the defendant qualifies for all of the charges then so be it. If they are not guilty of all or some of the charges, then they should be found not guilty. As for the two daughters, they don't publicly seem to be remorseful of the situation or their mother's predicament at all. If the parents were willing to pay $500,000 to grease their daughters' way into college, then I assume they aren't the kind of parents to "spank" their daughters - and that's what got them into this mess in the first place.

[Tom Earp]

I think the key thing is did she commit a crime. That is for the court to work out, not be tried in the Press and public opinion

Is it not possible that she was duped by the guy? It was a donation to and for the school? As I said, the heck with the brat daughters who would not have the chance at online careers.

But, I also said that Law Enforcement will stack more and more charges on to over whelm and scare them, and that is what they are doing!

[navane]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

I think the key thing is did she commit a crime. That is for the court to work out, not be tried in the Press and public opinion

Correct. Ms. Laughlin will indeed have her day in court. Since you are also in the "public", then perhaps you should also not be attempting to proclaim her guilt or innocence outside of court?

Is it not possible that she was duped by the guy? It was a donation to and for the school?

Sure, that is absolutely possible. That is why it seems she has pleaded "not guilty" and will proceed to a trial to explain her side of the story.

But, I also said that Law Enforcement will stack more and more charges on to over whelm and scare them, and that is what they are doing!

Tom, it's a little too broad to say that "law enforcement" are "stacking on" the charges. An FBI Special Agent who specializes in financial crimes is the one who hit everyone with it: https://www.justice.gov/file/1142876/download

And apparently it was a Grand Jury in Massachusetts which brought on the additional charges: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...andal-n1070111

I'm neutral on the matter. If the woman committed a crime, then may she be found guilty and receive an appropriate sentence. If she is innocent of some or all of the charges, may she be found innocent.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

As for laura laughlins situation,

this is how the FEDs, do people who do not plead guilty and take a deal or plea, PILE EXTRA CHARGES on them!

Makes them feel a lot worse than they may feel just so they will take a plea. I did and most L E O's did. Yep, sad I know.

Hope she and hubby beat the whole mess and then spank the hell out of the TWO BRAT's she has for kids!

I've negotiated more than my fair share of pleas. What you just described is something I've never seen. When we're talking about one act or one investigation, the Defendant is typically charged and doesn't actually learn about the charges until she receives them in court. I've never once seen a Assistant District Attorney pile on charges because people didn't take a plea.

I have seen ADAs dismiss charges as part of a plea. An example off the top of my head was where my guy was charged with possession of marijuana, cocaine, and paraphernalia as well as possession of a firearm while committing a felony, our ADA graciously dropped the gun charge so we could send the kid to a boot camp type program. The gun charge was considered a violent crime, which would have made that diversion impossible.

It's a pretty good rule of thumb to not make up your mind if you care about guilt or innocence until the trial and until the Defendant or her counsel make the State prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt.