[e16bball]

The sequence of events, while not irrelevant, is really insignificant in the result of this trial. I have some experience in this sort of thing, and I have spoken to some people who have significantly more. My personal opinion, one which was strongly echoed by these more expert persons, is that Taylor will receive some combination of or all of the following: community service, probation, and fine. The key fact is that, while we all "know" Taylor to be kind of an idiot and perhaps a "thug," he has no criminal record. Due to this clean record, he will receive probation; that is, after all, the point of probation. The law makes provisions for the fact that a person can make a stupid decision that is out of character and doesn't warrant punishment that will affect the rest of their life. Of course, if they commit another crime, and thereby demonstrate a criminal tendency, the first comes back on them as well. The State Atty in this case will agree to a plea bargain that basically eliminates the 10-20-Life rule, which only applies to certain felony convictions. Aggravated assault is one of these, but simple assault is not, so I expect Taylor to cop to the simple assault and possibly the simple battery in order to take jail time out of the picture. The state will agree to this because A) their case is flimsy and B) Taylor will have a top-of-the-line lawyer on hand. The state does not want to risk a straight acquittal, so they will go along with a decent plea.