JimMIA
There's more to life than mice...
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2005
I agree with you in this particular case, but this prosecutor is "special." I'm not sure what the non-shooting officer is charged with, but I don't see how he did anything wrong.As I have stated imo the non shooting officer should not be facing any charges. There are a couple of reasons he is but none are 'authentic' or should have been brought. Why are they? Political reasons, to avoid heat and to get name recognition. Time tested methods to get ahead. Pressure on the non shooter to 'tell the truth' or in other words what the prosecutor wants to hear (NOT suggesting he would or is lying).
I think your point about the expense of legal defense is legitimate in some cases.But reality is what it is. 2 years on the force I believe. How much money do you think he has saved? How much will his legal fees goes leaving aside go fund me things?
He does not get to hire an attorney only to get the charges dropped once the defense attorney is in only the judge can let him go.
I am really interested in what you, and others see as the legal fees coming his way. Unavoidable and devoid of reality outside impacting his life, family and friends.
But controversial cases are never good examples because they attract both attention and people wanting to help. In this particular case, I suspect he'll have no problem paying his legal fees. Some of the legal work will probably be done pro bono, the union might pay for some of it, but I don't think legal fees will be this officer's biggest worry.
His big worry is that he has lost his career, unless he gets acquitted or the charges are dropped, and he fights the termination and gets his job back. And even if he does, he's going to be working under a cloud.
The area where your point is most valid, IMO, is in the lower levels of offenses and courts -- things like DUI, for example.
If someone is charged with a serious crime like armed robbery and is looking at a long jail term, they will have a public defender or a court appointed attorney...and will pay little or nothing.
But a DUI defendant may be on their own, especially if they have a job and some assets. That's where the issue of legal expenses really becomes a big deal, although I don't think many people plead guilty to things they didn't do to avoid legal fees.