Legal Question in Criminal Law in Pennsylvania

No contest plea

My son will be entering a plea for Default for required appearance. He did not initially go to a sentencing scheduled back in Feb. 08. He turned himself in, in April 08. Reason why he didn't intially go to the sentencing/he was going back and forth to the clinic due to health issues, and was treated in the prison since, also fear and anxiety gripped him with his physical illness. Should he enter a guilty plea or a no contest plea, if allowed. A plea is being offered. He has been sentence for his other charges, and he wants this new charge (Default for required appearance) to run concurrant with his other charges. What should he do?


Asked on 7/13/08, 5:02 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Re: No contest plea

You have no option here, except to hire an atty to plead his position. I'd first talk with the prosecutor and explain as set forth below, on the chance the prosecutor chooses to drop or not prosecute the delay charges.

Have him go in, plead "stupidity". Tell the judge you will plead "no contest", and though there is not an excuse, there is an explaination... Explain he was not looking to avoid his fate, he was just reacting badly to the news from his doctor (was he getting treatment from his doctor, or awating test results? - anything that might be delayed or he may not get if he went to jail before he finished testing or treatment?) Ask for any sentence to run concurrently with his sentence.

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Answered on 7/14/08, 8:14 am


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