so

[fabsroman]

Val,

I don't disagree with you about having already done a bunch of community service. However, sometimes it is better to take a deal that results in nothing being on your record in lieu of trying to prove a point. Will this be a jury trial? Those are sometimes scary and the outcome is never a slam dunk. Plus, if this case does go to trial, it means that it already isn't a slam dunk for you or the prosecution or the state would have dropped the charges. Nobody brings a case to trial that they know they are going to lose.

My brother and his girlfriend went through some criminal stuff. They had the same attorney, but his was much simpler than hers. He was charged with disorderly conduct. The attorney wanted to try the case for practice before my brother's girlfriend's case the following week. This was after my brother was offered a Nolle (i.e., the charges are dropped) if he did 8 hours of community service. He called me and asked me what to do, and I told him to take the deal. The next week, the same attorney advised my brother's girlfriend not to take a deal and the girlfriend was found guilty on a bunch of charges and sentenced to 2 years, with all but 6 months suspended (i.e., she was supposed to do 6 months jail time). Sometimes, it is just better to take the deal. You and your attorney will have to figure this out.