Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

"We" can do nothing. He can refuse or comply. Before doing either, he should discuss the reasons and consequences [plea terms] with his attorney. I have to assume the PD already told him that 'briefly'. Whether the defendant understood it is a question you should ask the defendant. Unfortunately for him, the PD has little time for each client/defendant to sit and talk at length, as they may have several dozen clients on calendar every day. That is what other clients pay private counsel for, individual and undivided attention to their cases.