Families of SOs Community Group

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Update

mymanswoman
mymanswoman
My husband got word today that he will be starting his incarceration in November. He has been forced to take a plea deal whereby he has to enter a guilty plea for possessing and distributing child porn and he will be sentenced to 10 years. In Arkansas, he'll fall under the 1/6 rule and could be eligible for parole after 19 months. He didn't really have a choice because if he didn't take a guilty plea, then the prosecuting attorney was going to add on 24 more counts. Our financial resources are depleated. Public Defender is just going to rubber stamp the whole thing. Meanwhile, my violin studio is down to six students and I'm going to have to find another job that pays at least 9.00 an hour in order to make ends meet. I'm really frustrated and stressed out. What is the most frustrating is that he's been out for two years, working, getting counseling and nobody gives a shit. I really hate Arkansas and I really hate the fact that PD's just want to collect their fucking paychecks and not work on behalf of their clients. My husband is a FIRST TIME OFFENDER!!!! AR sentencing guidelines, which are a BLOODY JOKE, even state that first time offenders of this level of felony shouldn't have to face incarceration. But, the prosecutors and judges don't have to adhere-it's COMPLETELY VOLUNTARY down here. This control freak of a wife hates that absolutely NOTHING can be done. It'll be a long two years.
mymanswoman
mymanswoman
please forgive the profanity-had to really really vent.
hurtandfearfull
hurtandfearfull
The whole system is a failure. They act like they want u to get treatment and that's why they r sending u away but that to is a bunch of lies.

Hausa to all of us left behind
hurtandfearfull
hurtandfearfull
Pops meant hugs to all of us
hurtinwife
hurtinwife
Be thankful he only got 2 years. Mu husband has a long sentence 10-20.
mymanswoman
mymanswoman
Hurting,
Its a 10 yr sentence. Parole eligible after 19 months.
ThoughtAsWeak
ThoughtAsWeak
Public Pretenders don't work, all they do is collect paychecks. Sorry :-(
Independent2014
Independent2014
It is not even the fault of the public defenders office. They are vastly understaffed and underpaid to do their job, they are on a completely unfair plain when compared to the prosecutors office. Prosecutors have the police to investigate crimes, who does the PD's office have? They do not have the money or the resources that the prosecutors have. This leads to a fundamental unfairness in the justice system, especially for the poor and disenfranchised.

I am very sorry your husband was not given adequate legal counsel. The problem is that there is just no winning these kinds of cases. You will hear people talk about spending money on a more expensive lawyer and getting the same result as someone with a PD. You just cannot win a CP case, the "ick" factor will make it all but impossible to get a fair trial even if your hubby is innocent. Unfortunately the best option is to take a plea, even if you feel the PD is just rubber stamping it I can tell you from my experience that this is usually the best option. Prosecutors have all sorts of avenues to make you pay for not taking a plea deal. They stack the book against each defendant then tell them if they don't plead to whatever they want them to plead to they will charge them for 10x the crimes and you will be in jail for 40 years if you lose, which you most likely will.

This is a no win situation and unfortunately you guys had to experience this. I am hoping and praying he can get in a low security prison and get out in 19 months on probation.
frogpond1
frogpond1
Independent is right it's not their fault. Even up here in the north where the public defenders office has more resources they are still stretched incredibly thin having to handle 150-200 cases per person. But this case load extends even to the DA's office and probation office. The whole system is incredibly overburdened which makes you stop and wonder where our priorities are as a society.
KnowNot
KnowNot
My fiance took a plea for CP. His PD wanted him to go to trial. His PD was a moron through and through. Strangely the prosecutor helped him for than his PD. The judge even told his PD that he was a moron.


His plea was 1 /12 years in jail. If he went to trial (as his PD very much wanted) he would have gotten a minimum of 20 years.

My fiance was a first time offender. He never had so much as a speeding ticket. He was in school, a year away from his bachelor's degree, was running his own business and working full time. It is a fucking joke. I agree with you.