I must say in my 35 years of doing cases I never had a single client plead Guilty to the charges at the arraignment.
It just is not done.
And that is even if the government’s case is overwhelming against the defendant.
Why?
Because you want to get the best plea offer you can get from the government in the case.
If you enter a plea of guilty at the arrangement, you’re giving up this wonderful opportunity.
The prosecution may be willing to offer you a better deal shortly before trial than they are now.
There is just no value to a defendant entering a plea of guilty at the arraignment.
The client might as well enter a plea of guilty HIMSELF and save a lot of $$ in attorneys fees if that were the case.
Sometimes the prosecution has a problem of proof at trial.
If that is the case Pittsburgh criminal defense attorney and car accident attorney Bernard Tully should be there with you getting you the best offer we can.
Don’t you agree?
Bernie the attorney!Seth Williams.
Seth Williams.
Courtesy photo
Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams pleaded not guilty in federal court today to bribery and extortion charges.
Williams has thus far refused to step down even as calls for his resignation are mounting.
Federal authorities filed the charges Tuesday against Williams related to the acceptance of gifts valued at thousands of dollars to do favors for two local business owners.
In addition to his alleged acceptance of lavish gifts—including a Jaguar convertible, trips to the Dominican Republic, and cash payments—Williams is accused of ripping off a Pennsylvania nursing home by keeping the Social Security money for a relative living there, along with pocketing cash meant for that relative given by friends of the family.
The grand jury indictment, unsealed in federal court in Philadelphia on Tuesday, hits Williams with 21 counts including bribery-related charges, extortion, honest services fraud and wire fraud. The charges came as a result of a joint FBI, IRS and Department of Homeland Security investigation. The case is being handled by New Jersey federal prosecutors at the request of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia to avoid the appearance of bias, since that office deals with the city’s District Attorney’s Office regularly.
Williams entered his plea on Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard A. Lloret of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and was released on $50,000 bond. Lloret also barred Williams from having contact with anyone identified in the indictment other than his girlfriend and from traveling outside the Eastern District.
Read the article below from the Legal Intelligencer and enjoy!
Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams pleaded not guilty in federal court today to bribery and extortion charges.
Williams has thus far refused to step down even as calls for his resignation are mounting.
Federal authorities filed the charges Tuesday against Williams related to the acceptance of gifts valued at thousands of dollars to do favors for two local business owners.
In addition to his alleged acceptance of lavish gifts—including a Jaguar convertible, trips to the Dominican Republic, and cash payments—Williams is accused of ripping off a Pennsylvania nursing home by keeping the Social Security money for a relative living there, along with pocketing cash meant for that relative given by friends of the family.
The grand jury indictment, unsealed in federal court in Philadelphia on Tuesday, hits Williams with 21 counts including bribery-related charges, extortion, honest services fraud and wire fraud. The charges came as a result of a joint FBI, IRS and Department of Homeland Security investigation. The case is being handled by New Jersey federal prosecutors at the request of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia to avoid the appearance of bias, since that office deals with the city’s District Attorney’s Office regularly.
Williams entered his plea on Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard A. Lloret of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and was released on $50,000 bond. Lloret also barred Williams from having contact with anyone identified in the indictment other than his girlfriend and from traveling outside the Eastern District.