Alvin Kamara indicted. Court date is set for March 2.

I am not sure that anyone on this forum knows enough about the criminal-justice system in Clark County, Nevada, to really predict what is going to happen. In my experience, there is a difference between plea-bargaining, where a defendant pleads guilty to fewer offenses or a lesser offense than what he is charged with in return for the other offense or offenses being dismissed, and sentence-bargaining, where it seems the sentence on a plea will be less than it will be if there is a trial and the defendant is found guilty.

These are some possible factors:

1. Who is the judge? What is his (or her) reputation? Are judges in Nevada elected or appointed? If the former, when is the next election?

2. What are juries like in this county? In criminal cases, are they considered liberal or conservative?

3. Who is the district attorney? What is his (or her) reputation? When is his next election? Does his office have a policy of plea-bargaining? Does his office see this case as a trophy--that is, it will more likely take a hard position in any negotiations and seek a conviction because of the media attention the case has received, because a defendant is well known, and because the evidence of battery (for me) is overwhelming (I am still having issues with the conspiracy count)?

4. Do the victim's wishes affect what the district attorney wants to do? If there is a settlement of the civil lawsuit, and the victim states he does not oppose a plea agreement favorable to Kamara; or if the victim and the defendants strongly indicate that a settlement of the civil suit is near and they want a global settlement resolving the criminal charges as well, how will the district attorney respond?

It is not just a matter of a few statutes say. Sometimes there are exceptions to exceptions. because of the media attention and the pending civil lawsuit, there are moving parts.