How a person chooses to respond to criminal charges can make a very big difference in the outcome of a case. When the criminal charges are felonies, the repercussions are extremely serious. In pleading not guilty, people must be prepared to mount an aggressive defense. They need to have effective counsel and a solid strategy to fight the charges in court.
However, there are times when pleading guilty to a felony charge can work in a person's favor. Oregon prosecutors are often willing to negotiate plea agreements with those accused of crimes in exchange for their pleading guilty. This allows for a quicker and more cost-effective way of resolving criminal cases.
In one recent Oregon case, a man pleaded no contest to a couple felony charges. This man had been accused of possession of methamphetamine and bigamy. According to court reports, a criminal investigation was started after the 42-year-old man filed for a marriage license. He listed himself as single on the license and eventually got married. However, the man was already married to a different woman. When the second marriage was completed, prosecutors claim, he was still legally married to his first wife. It is a Class C felony in Oregon to be married to more than one person at a time.
The man claims that he thought the first marriage had ended in divorce before he married a second time. He says that he had not heard from his first wife in more than three years. As a result of his plea, the man's driver's license has been suspended, he will serve 18 months of probation and he must complete a substance abuse program. Despite these punishments, the man says he looks forward to moving forward with his life. This plea allows that to happen more quickly.
Source: Corvallis Gazette Times, "Man pleads no contest to bigamy charges," Joce DeWitt, Oct. 27, 2012
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