Issue Date: 10/8/07
Plea bargains leave victims in the cold
Criminal bargaining expedites trial, but at the expense of a safe society
By Wayland Blue
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In admitting to the conspiracy charges, Sepulveda did not have to admit to the underlying facts of the case, which were that he was conspiring to kill three people.
If there was strong enough evidence that there was a conspiracy, which it appears that there was because Sepulveda was pressured into pleading guilty to it, then there should have been strong enough evidence to get him convicted for what he was conspiring to do.
Another thing that must be considered is the nature of the crime. Offering a plea deal for some one accused of auto theft or a drug offense would be reasonable if it was the only way to get the defendant convicted or perhaps even for the sake of expediting the case.
For a crime as serious as attempted murder in which some one's life is at risk or, in this case, three peoples' lives, it is not appropriate to allow the defendant to avoid the full punishment for the crimes of which he is accused.
This is especially true because a plea bargain was likely not the only way to get Sepulveda convicted.
As stated earlier, there was enough evidence to pressure him into a plea bargain over the charge of conspiracy. There should have been enough to convict him for the object of the conspiracy.
In addition, there is the charge of molesting the 14-year-old girl, in which he also pleaded guilty.
In a time when public urination is considered a sex crime, it is disappointing to see someone who admitted to a much more serious sex crime not even have to register as a sex offender.
It is not acceptable for people accused of crimes such as these to escape justice by making a plea bargain.
It is not even reasonable to offer a plea bargain unless some great good is obtained from it.
In this case, it appears that no good came out of it.
It appears that guilty people have escaped justice.
If there was strong enough evidence that there was a conspiracy, which it appears that there was because Sepulveda was pressured into pleading guilty to it, then there should have been strong enough evidence to get him convicted for what he was conspiring to do.
Another thing that must be considered is the nature of the crime. Offering a plea deal for some one accused of auto theft or a drug offense would be reasonable if it was the only way to get the defendant convicted or perhaps even for the sake of expediting the case.
For a crime as serious as attempted murder in which some one's life is at risk or, in this case, three peoples' lives, it is not appropriate to allow the defendant to avoid the full punishment for the crimes of which he is accused.
This is especially true because a plea bargain was likely not the only way to get Sepulveda convicted.
As stated earlier, there was enough evidence to pressure him into a plea bargain over the charge of conspiracy. There should have been enough to convict him for the object of the conspiracy.
In addition, there is the charge of molesting the 14-year-old girl, in which he also pleaded guilty.
In a time when public urination is considered a sex crime, it is disappointing to see someone who admitted to a much more serious sex crime not even have to register as a sex offender.
It is not acceptable for people accused of crimes such as these to escape justice by making a plea bargain.
It is not even reasonable to offer a plea bargain unless some great good is obtained from it.
In this case, it appears that no good came out of it.
It appears that guilty people have escaped justice.
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