PLEA DEALS AND SENTENCES

Many criminal cases are resolved out of court by having both sides come to an agreement. This process is known as negotiating a plea or plea bargaining. In most jurisdictions it resolves most of the criminal cases filed.

ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE’S BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE,
90-95% OF ALL CRIMINAL CASES RESULT IN A PLEA BARGAIN.

Plea bargaining is prevalent for practical reasons.

• Defendants can avoid the time and cost of defending themselves at trial, the risk of harsher punishment, and the publicity a trial could involve.
• The prosecution saves the time and expense of a lengthy trial.
• Both sides are spared the uncertainty of going to trial.
• The court system is saved the burden of conducting a trial on every crime charged.

Below are just a few of the plea agreements and sentences achieved under DA Renteria’s Administration:

State v. Jeffrey Biddle - 34.5 years for criminal sexual penetration of a minor (plus a life sentence for federal charges prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney)
Stacy Pruett - 18 years for child abuse (maximum penalty allowed by law)
Justin Castillo - 20 years for criminal sexual penetration of a minor
Lois Curry - 17.4 years for shooting at a dwelling
Ryan Morris - 4 years for aggravated assault (maximum penalty allowed by law)
William Veck - 7 years for shooting at a dwelling
Macario Arroyos - 21 years for second degree murder and other charges (maximum penalties allowed by law)
Carlos Valenzuela - 23 years for voluntary manslaughter and associated charges
Bradd Shellhorn - 4 years for drug trafficking
Tifanny Taylor - 4 years for drug trafficking
Dezarae Anzaldua - 18 years for kidnapping and attempted murder (maximum penalties allowed by law)
Thomas Spurgeon - 15 years for second degree murder (maximum penalty allowed by law)
Bradley Choate - 6 years for kidnapping