RWsMom, thanks for the advice. Did your son's attorney try to influence him to take a plea bargain? I just wonder how difficult it is to turn down two attorneys who are trying to pressure you.

I was falsly accused of rape, no DNA, no witnesses, even my place of employment went so far as to change my timecards to put me at the scene when the "alleged" attacks took place. We filled out our timecards by hand and they magically come up missing when I had no problems before. I was hit with 57 charges, more charges than Saddam Hussein, my bail was on $345, and I been out for almost 3 years. The girl immediately filed a civil suit against my place of employment, and then brags about everything on facebook and myspace. Either way, the judge who is a former prosecutor for the same county he serves at, denied every motion that my attorney requested, and granted whatever the DA wanted. I said take it to trial, so not knowing that the county I am in that blacks make up less than 1%, I received an all-white, all old jury. I knew there was no hope at that point, so I took a plea where I get probation to 26 days, 10 yrs registry, with 3 years probation. I never forced myself on any woman ever, the damage that is done is unexplanable, and to know she told a lie, and her mother, her father, and herself all have civil suits pending against my former place of employment. The cops and prosecutor didn't care that she was lying, they just wanted a win for their record books.

Wow, no wonder you're an angry American! Did you have your own attorney or a public defender?

Husband innocent until proven guilty. Had expensive lawyer, but he suggested the plea as our adopted daughter is very pretty and would play the jury in her favor. Alford Pleas do not admit guilt, but state there could be evidence to convict - if you call the accusation only - evidence. For us twenty years with a jury vs. less than 5 with the plea - looked a lot better - especially if he wants to see his little daughter grow up. It's all a crap shoot really. TV shows and real life court dramas are two different things. After the nightmare began - to have to go through a possibly publicized trial (with me in education at the time) would have been too much. Luckily there was no publicity and we are halfway through his sentence. Watching the "Witch Hunt" movie really enlightened me to tell my husband to take the lesser of the two evils. I am not a gambler. His life and our family life was worth too much. Having the jury make the decision is too scary with the majority of people out there wanting to totally fry the individual on trial guilty or innocent.

I watched PBS's "Frontline: The Plea" the other night. Thanks to whomever recommended it. It was very informative. I feel so sorry for that poor woman who was forced into homeless by her probation sentence.

Tonight, I plan to watch "Witch Hunt" on Netflix.com Instant Play.

This is such hard-hitting stuff. I can only digest so much of it in any given day. Sometimes, I need to go off by myself and do frivolous things, like look at funny youtube videos, to keep my sanity.

OK. I just finished watching "Witch Hunt." Whew! Very hard-hitting movie. I'm so glad I watched it. What a corrupt system!

We paid alot for a supposively good lawyer, and for 3 years we went from one court date to another. My son could not work during this time, and our lives been hell. Finally after 3 1/2 years, a trial date was set. The judge said this was it, no more postponements. Our lawyer came to him two weeks before trial with a plea offer, he refused. Another offer, again my son refused. Last but not least, another offer, but my son was not going to say he was guilty of something he DID NOT DO. So we went to trial, and our lawyer did very little to defend him, in fact some of the things he did actually helped convict him. So my son sits in State Prison for 26 years. The girl that accused him is living her life, and we are waiting for our appeal to be heard. Paying for a lawyer I thought would help us get justice. Unfortunately, that's not always true. I hate how many people suffer because of this system that does not work.

Blissful54, I'm so sorry to hear about your nightmare. Yes the system is broken. But at least you are able to appeal, which you wouldn't have been able to do, if he had pled guilty. I don't know if that is any comfort, though.

The people who plead innocent in witch hut and appealed did not get out quickly. Some served as many as twenty years. The right to appeal does not guarantee the appeal will overturn the conviction. Blissful54 I feel your pain as if my husband was in your son's shoes. 26 years is a long time. What was the plea offer for? My husband was looking at a very long while if he went to trial. I sympathize with the three years of hell you went through just to get to trial. Was he out during that time? My husband got out on bail (at my request) because his mother put up their home and I testified that we needed him to be able to work to help our family finances. My husband's attorney spoke beautifully and between the three of us - he got out that evening. His attorney did not think that it would happen. I pray that your appeal will be heard and he will get out soon - it's such a shame to see innocent people put away for so long. My husband cannot appeal due to the plea, but will be home in July of 2012. We are trusting in God that our lives will resume in a positive manner. I can tell you that there are so many things God has done for us during this time - we are sure that it will be a testimony in the future. Whatever road our beloved chooses to take (plea or trial) God can work through each and every case. May God work mightily in yours - you deserve the peace that surpasses all understanding as we walk through these challenging days!

In our case my husband plead not guilty and we went to trial
BTW, it's a long story, he iS inoocent ...it's a mess involving his family and a fued that has been ongoing for years.
Anyway, we went to trial and after overhearing the ADA coaching and all but telling the witness to lie and hearing the same ADA state she didn't care about "Mr. X's" guilt or innocense ...she just wanted a win for her career (we reported it but nothing was done) we got a hung jury.
The ADA then stated she planned to refile and after the fight we had to get and keep certain evidence that was beneificial in..we were worried she'd managed to have it tossed.
So hubby plead guilty to something lessor and got 3mos. in jail and the 3 years parole.
It's bull, here was no evidence and the accuser's testimony changed with the wind, but way better than the 20+ he could have got and considering we had a PD, alot better than it could have been.

Wow! So much this sounds so familiar. just goes to show our legal system needs a major overhaul.

I have to give kudos my to my hubby's Pd. He did try and try hard (both of them did) He had 2 one more or less advising the other.
They did fight for him. The one took a jury consultant to luch to pick his brain before jury selection..he wanted the consultant actually there but there scheduling problems..so he did the next best thing.
When the trial was over with the jury hung, they asked my hbby if he wanted another go or see what the DA offered. In the end, it was my hubby's decision

A Plea bargain is NO BARGAIN!

If you are falsely accused: How to avoid the most painful mistakes";Your innocence does not protect you." - http://t.co/uuo7ZqP

Pleas are no deals, don't let your son go thru a plea bargain, let it go to trial and let the jury decide not the public pretenders or so called lawyers! Your son will probably pay for the rest of his life taking a plea bargain, and I'm not just talking registry, and jail/prison time. NO DEAL!!

I asked a lawyer who posts as PrisonTalk about plea bargains if you're innocent. Here's what she said:

"Your son should take a plea bargain if the deal he is offered will be less than the likely result than if he goes to trial. Guilt or innocence is not the issue, if a jury is likely to convict your son and if the DA offers a better deal than your son would get if he went to trial and were convicted, then your son should seriously consider the plea offer."