5/7/2015 Upcoming court date -

[Marvin]

Chris' court date is coming up.

A bit ago, I asked what people thought would happen at this next court date. As you can see in that thread, we got a few answers that sound on target. Mostly people were saying it's going to be a non-event. But I'm still waffling on whether or not I want to go. Maybe.

Anyway, this thread is for discussing this court date and possible excursions for it.

 

[Lipitor]

I'm pretty sure you can enter a plea at a pre-trial, which if that's what he's planning to do could very well happen. He's not working any public service or anything that could cause a necessary continuation right?

 

[4Macie]

I don't think this court appearence is going to be any different (or any more interesting) than the last one. So if you want to go to be the one to tell us nothing of interest happened, all the more power to ya.

 

[Francis York Morgan]

I think he'll enter his plea at least on the upcoming date. I can't think of any reason why he'd be granted another continuance.

 

[ChurchOfGodBear]

I think he'll enter his plea at least on the upcoming date. I can't think of any reason why he'd be granted another continuance.

This makes sense. If both sides are ready, why ask for a continuance? I know it could happen, but everyone (even the Chandlers!) seem to be on board with just getting this over as fast as possible.

 

[timtommy]

This makes sense. If both sides are ready, why ask for a continuance? I know it could happen, but everyone (even the Chandlers!) seem to be on board with just getting this over as fast as possible.

It seems there is a bit of speculation there. We don't really know what happened last time, except that a continuance happened really quickly.

We don't know the prosecutor's state of readiness. He could be really behind and want another month or two to shuffle through the paper work. We don't know the prosecutor's state of mind for that matter. How willing is he to plead this out and just give Chris a slap on the wrist.

We have heard Chris is willing to plead guilty, in the interest of receiving a light sentence. Ok. But do we know if he would plead guilty if there wasn't a good deal on the table? Suppose, purely hypothetically, that he was looking 3 months in jail if he lost in trial, and all the prosecutor was offering him was 2 months in jail. What would he do then?

Also, even if he is willing to plead guilty, that doesn't mean he is eager to get it over with. If he is facing a fine or even a jail sentence, he might be happy to put that off for a month or two if he can get away with it.

I think we have gotten to the point where we really don't know what is going to happen at this court date. Prior to the early February one, there was a lot of uninformed speculation that he was going directly to a 2 year prison sentence. More informed forum members told us that wasn't going to happen.

I think we have gotten to the point where anything could happen. It could easily be another 2 minute discussion leading to a continuance. But it could also end up being the beginning of the end of the process. A plea entry, discussion of his sentence, statement from Chris, all kinds of fireworks.

 

[ChurchOfGodBear]

We don't know the prosecutor's state of readiness. He could be really behind and want another month or two to shuffle through the paper work. We don't know the prosecutor's state of mind for that matter. How willing is he to plead this out and just give Chris a slap on the wrist.

All this is true. A lot of it does depend on which side, if not both, wanted the continuance. We had word that Chris was going to plead guilty well before the April court date, so that would suggest that the defense is as ready as it's ever going to be, and perhaps it is the prosecution that needs more time. However, with an open-and-shut case like this, especially for a rather minor offense, I'm not sure what more they'd need to do after the next date. I agree that there's a lot we don't know, but unless there's something really weird that hasn't come to light, I strongly think we're going to see some sort of resolution soon.

We have heard Chris is willing to plead guilty, in the interest of receiving a light sentence. Ok. But do we know if he would plead guilty if there wasn't a good deal on the table? Suppose, purely hypothetically, that he was looking 3 months in jail if he lost in trial, and all the prosecutor was offering him was 2 months in jail. What would he do then?

IMO, as a total-non-lawyer, Chris already got a pretty good plea deal right out of the gate, by being charged with unlawful release of a gas, rather than assault and battery. Make no mistake about it, there WAS a case for A&B to be made, it just would have involved a lot more splitting of hairs than unlawful release, which is an absolute slam-dunk. Could he plea down further? Sure, there's nothing preventing him from trying. But really, the prosecution already has this in the bag. Chris would do well to not waste anyone else's time.

Also, even if he is willing to plead guilty, that doesn't mean he is eager to get it over with. If he is facing a fine or even a jail sentence, he might be happy to put that off for a month or two if he can get away with it.

Oh yeah, if you can't have instant gratification, at least delay punishment! Chris is of course not the type to be proactive about anything, much less dealing with his obligations. However, Chris also seems to resent having to take the time to go to court more than the punishment itself. I think getting the court out of his hair for good is something he'd want.

I think we have gotten to the point where anything could happen. It could easily be another 2 minute discussion leading to a continuance. But it could also end up being the beginning of the end of the process. A plea entry, discussion of his sentence, statement from Chris, all kinds of fireworks.

Yeah, I agree with this as well. It COULD be a continuance, and if it is, there's no reason for anyone to be surprised. There IS a lot we don't know... I'm just saying from what we DO know, it looks like things have already continued as much as they'd need to be.

 

[Count Olaf]

what I want to know is will he park in the Judge's spot again, and if he does, will Sonchu get towed?

And if it does, how much will he lose his shit?

And of course, will Operation Chriseater III commence?

 

[Ruin]

He pleads guilty, gets a slap on the wrist and continues to tard around town.

 

[GS 281]

Is this going to be another one of those threads where people who think Chris won't get any punishment call the people who think he's going to jail retarded and people who think that Chris is going to jail call people who think Chris will get off scot free idiots? I think the Riots are making OP stir crazy...

 

[Tsukiko]

Is this going to be another one of those threads where people who think Chris won't get any punishment call the people who think he's going to jail retarded and people who think that Chris is going to jail call people who think Chris will get off scot free idiots?

That's a hell of a sentence

To answer your question, Chris is going to maximum security prison for a billion years also he has a gun and will shoot Cole Smithey. Anyone who thinks otherwise is an A-Log.

 

[Lipitor]

It's sad. I really want to see Christian cuffed and sent off to jail crying.

 

[Marvin]

Is this going to be another one of those threads where people who think Chris won't get any punishment call the people who think he's going to jail retarded and people who think that Chris is going to jail call people who think Chris will get off scot free idiots?

Well, I think we've mostly come to a consensus on those issues, at least. I'm just wondering what's going on next week.

I think the Riots are making OP stir crazy...

Heh, nah, I've been meaning to go to Chris' "big" court date. I'm just having trouble figuring out which one that is (or, as it's looking now, whether there will even be one).

 

[AnOminous]

I think he'll enter his plea at least on the upcoming date. I can't think of any reason why he'd be granted another continuance.

He'd probably be granted a continuance if he so much as asked for one. It would be pointless, but two continuances is no biggie.

 

[GS 281]

It's sad. I really want to see Christian cuffed and sent off to jail crying.

Barb will wait for him to get out. And she will have her belly dancing costume ready, too.

 

[Captain Cid]

A few of the possible outcomes and final comments from the Judge:

"Bailiff, whack his pee pee!"

"Castration! Double castration!"

"On a more personal note, let me go on record as saying that there is no place in decent society for fakes, charlatans and tricksters like you who prey on the gullibility of innocent people. You're beneath the contempt of this court. And believe me, if my hands were not tied by the
unalterable fetters of the law, a law which has become in my view far too permissive and inadequate in it's standards of punishment, I would invoke the tradition of our illustrious forebearers, reach back to a sterner, purer justice and have you burned at the stake!"

 

[Lipitor]

Heh, nah, I've been meaning to go to Chris' "big" court date. I'm just having trouble figuring out which one that is (or, as it's looking now, whether there will even be one

I think its difficult to tell. I doubt Christian even knows. He looked surprised last time when they told him he could go home. Which probably means his PD is just handling his case with as little interaction with Christian as necessary.

 

[Gensdupays]

So, odds of him parking in the judge's parking spot again?

 

[Lipitor]

So, odds of him parking in the judge's parking spot again?

Probably pretty good.

 

[Gensdupays]

Probably pretty good.

It's one of the closest spots, right? Does he still have a handicapped placard and maybe he's just mistaking it for that? Or does he just not care?