Sean Taylor Trial

What plea deal were they offered? If the "deal" would have still required jail time, they could have rejected it regardless of the strength of the case. For ST, any "deal" that still requires jailtime may simply not be an option.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/12/AR2005071200959.html

A deal was offered to Taylor with the minimum jail sentence, 3 years. By Florida law the DA can't offer any less than that for the charges he's facing. So you're right, Taylor probably found this completely unacceptable and is taking his chances.

But the co-defendant was offered a deal to roll on Taylor, and he rejected that outright, despite the fact that all charges would have been dropped in the deal. He rejected that even though he's facing up to 15 years. That's telling to me.


The attorney for Caughman, Evan Hoffman, said his client could have had the felony assault charge against him -- which carries a 15-year maximum sentence -- dropped had he agreed to cooperate against Taylor. Caughman was charged with allegedly wielding a bat in the incident in which Taylor was accused of pointing a handgun and hitting a man with his fist.
"We were ethically and morally obligated to turn down the offer because we are steadfast in maintaining his innocence," Hoffman said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/12/AR2005071200959.html

A deal was offered to Taylor with the minimum jail sentence, 3 years. By Florida law the DA can't offer any less than that for the charges he's facing. So you're right, Taylor probably found this completely unacceptable and is taking his chances.

But the co-defendant was offered a deal to roll on Taylor, and he rejected that outright, despite the fact that all charges would have been dropped in the deal. He rejected that even though he's facing up to 15 years. That's telling to me.

Thanks for the info. I haven't been following as closely as I should.

Yah, I think for ST it's either innocent or bust at this point. The mandatory minimum is going to make a plea bargain almost impossible for both sides. You could look at it either way, of course, but to avoid the mandatory 3 years all the prosecutor would have to do is drop the assault down to simple assault that does not involve a gun. It's interesting that he refuses (thusfar) to do so.

As for the co-defendant, that really is shocking to me. As a co-defendant, with his own legal counsel, I can't imagine any attorney that wouldn't have convinced his client to take a deal that wipes out all charges......unless, of course, ST has made some promises behind closed doors to his boy involving $$$. We may never know.

The District Attorney can't lose in this case and that is why it's going to trial. He probably knows it's a long shot, but even if they don't get a conviction and I don't think they have a chance in hell without some really damning evidence that has been kept out of the press he can still say we are tough on people who use guns and no one is above the law. End of statement. He did his job and he looks tough on crime. Florida has maybe the toughest gun laws in the country. It's interesting to note that this is the very same DA that was involved with a case against Antrell Rolle a while back and he decided not to press charges?

As for the co-defendant, that really is shocking to me. As a co-defendant, with his own legal counsel, I can't imagine any attorney that wouldn't have convinced his client to take a deal that wipes out all charges......unless, of course, ST has made some promises behind closed doors to his boy involving $$$. We may never know.

Yeah that was very surprising to see them reject that deal. You make a great point about the possibility of Taylor paying him. I think the plea rejection there means one of three things:
A) Taylor really didn't do anything, or the defense knows that the state's evidence is crappy and can't get him on anything.
B) Taylor is paying his buddy to back him up (though it would take a TON of money for me to turn down a plea deal that eliminates the chance I'll see jail time).
C) Taylor's buddy is an idiot, and despite the urging of his own attorney to take the deal, he decided that he wasn't going to roll on his boy, even if it was the smart thing to do.

My guess is it's A, but that's just my guess. We shall see.

maybe taylor is innocent and he too is innocent and he has a conscience ?