After being arrested and charged with a crime, Nebraska residents need to understand their options for their defenses. Every situation is unique and there is no one approach that works for everyone but for some defendants, entering into a plea agreement with prosecutors may well be a viable and good option.
Such is the case for four people facing a range of drug crime charges. Two of the defendants entered guilty pleas in response to Class I misdemeanor charges of attempted possession of drugs. In one case, a woman is said to have tried to fraudulently obtain a prescription medication. Another defendant is said to have admitted he used meth while in a vehicle with the driver. No specific guidelines for sentencing in these cases were provided.
A third defendant plead no contest to his Class I misdemeanor charges involving tetrahdryocannabinols. In his case, probation was recommended in exchange for the plea. Another defendant also received a probation recommendation after he plead guilty to Class IV felony charges involving the drug lorazepam. In this situation, the court is said to have stipulated that probation would be acceptable so long as no other criminal charges are incurred on the part of the defendant.
Plea bargains may provide defendants with an opportunity to avoid lengthy and costly trials and the potential for experiencing harsher sentences. Talking with an attorney after an arrest may be a good way to learn whether or not a plea bargain is appropriate in a specific case.
Source: Fremont Tribune, "Local residents appear in court on drug charges," Brent Hardin, Jan. 23, 2017