An Alford plea is a plea that may be entered by a defendant who has been charged with a crime. Lee Yang entered on Monday an Alford plea to second-degree murder in the shooting of his grandfather five years ago while high on methamphetamine and was sentenced to … Although he claimed innocence on all charges (in the face of strong evidence to the contrary), Alford pleaded guilty to second-degree murder prior to trial. Thus, an Alford plea is similar to a nolo contendere (no-contest) plea, but it is, in reality, a guilty plea while still maintaining one’s innocence. Alford accepted the plea but maintained his innocence. By the 1960’s, plea bargaining in the United States was looked upon unfavorably and discouraged by most judges. The Alford Plea: Guilty But Innocent. In such a case, the defendant is admitting that, whatever evidence the prosecution has is likely to convince the court he is guilty. In October 2019 Camacho pleaded guilty to five counts of … Alford faced the death penalty for first-degree murder. The gray areas of law are rarely as black and white as with the Alford Plea—innocent but guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Camacho entered an Alford plea meaning he did not admit guilt but acknowledged a jury likely would have convicted him. People v. West was a California Supreme Court ruling back in 1970 (3 Cal.3d 595) wherein the issue was the legal status of a plea bargain. The Alford plea unambiguously maintains innocence while a nolo contendre plea simply does not admit guilt. The Alford plea is treated as a guilty plea for sentencing, yet allows the individual using it to maintain their innocence. While it may serve to bend the rules of the law, this plea can sometimes be the only recourse the … California Western School of Law is a Non-Profit Organization under the IRS Code 501(c)(3). Plea bargaining, the process of negotiating with the criminal court system to accept a lesser charge in lieu of a more favorable punishment, has a long and varied history dating as far back as the 17 th century Colonial Era. Consult your tax advisor for questions regarding your specific tax situation. In entering an Alford plea, the individual essentially enters a plea of guilty, while maintaining a claim of innocence. An Alford plea is similar to a guilty plea for appeal purposes and is very limited I am pleased to communicate with you concerning legal matters. Nicholas and co-defendant Ashley Christine Fargo, who both live in the Newport Beach area, will enter an “Alford plea” to two felony drug possession charges and will make a … West is a plea entered into without admitting the factual truth of the allegations against defendant, but is entered into for practical purposes to avoid more punishment if one is found guilty at trial. Gifts to the California Innocence Project may be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law (EIN#: 95-2944594). The prosecutor accepted the plea, and he was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment. List of U.S. states by Alford plea usage documents usage of the form of guilty plea known as the Alford plea in each of the U.S. states in the United States. However, in 1963, a man named Henry Alford was … These pleas have different names in different jurisdictions, but a are not uncommon - although they usually require the agreement of the prosecution and the court. The Alford Plea is similar to a plea of nolo contendre, but they differ in a few major ways. The judge sentenced Alford to a 30-year prison sentence. With a plea of nolo contendere, the defendant does not expressly admit guilt. 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