I am following about 20 felony cases some that have dragged on for many years. Jury's have convicted some resulting in long prison time, while others took pleas for lesser sentences. All are private consenting adults cases of massage parlors, escorts, and the old Studio Case.
I have done short updates on sample cases in the Legal Section without names and limiting information to what is allowed here vs other places I post more details. A few examples of the current cases are on the Legal board her on TER. Seems I can't post them on the Phoenix board, even though all are Phoenix cases. I have been following felony cases for about 20 years. All the government funds wasted going after in private consenting adults. Court costs, judges, public defenders, investigators,the huge amount of staff time of County Attorney to prepare cases, spend months or years on each trial or case. Not to mention LE manpower for raids, investigations, and appearance in Court. This money should be directed to "real" victims, not the pretend ones. However huge grants are funding these stings with the sham excuse of underage and sex trafficking for maybe 90% of the cases. Yes, there are serious issues in maybe 10% of the cases the community could help the police locate with true pimps/abuse/underage. We need a harm reduction model like Canada and other places vs the victim industry in the U.S. where all sex workers are considered victims that need "saving" Catholic Charities continues to get bug City grants for their "save the victims' programs like old Project Rose where you had to claim you were some kind of victim, be "cured" or go to jail.To mollify a lazy-ass follower, could you state or estimate what percentage of felony trials result in a not guilty or dismissal as opposed to guilty or plea bargained results?
I've often wondered should worse come to worse, which course of action is the better one.
I've often wondered should worse come to worse, which course of action is the better one.
In the last 5 years, I recall 3 cases out of maybe 100 I've followed that went to trial and none of them were the workers only the leaders. All the workers took pleas mostly for felonies and probation vs long prison terms if lose at trial.
All cases that I have seen go to trial have been convictions with long prison terms since judge has little leeway under Az Mandatory Sentencing. Jury's in Phoenix area tend to be very conservative. I believe if the Phx Goddess case was a bench trial Tracy could have likely won on the legal merits vs the mercy of a jury. My honest view is none of the other cases had a chance to win under the current repressive laws for private consenting adults.
It seems to be clear, go to trial which will be years after the arrest, and go to prison or take a plea and probation, although with a felony record.
Print the below image and send it to local prosecutors and legislators to remind them of Arizona's history.