Alvin Kamara pleads no contest to lesser misdemeanor charge, jury trial is cancelled; civil suit also settled on confidential terms (2 Viewers)

[SonOfNOLA]

 

[jessy]

I was never worried.

1 game suspension in 2024 after an appeal.

 

[texasjefe]

How dare Buzbee not come here and tell us. What are we, chopped livah?

 

[EGLSShin]

Should be 12 games minimum.

 

[superchuck500]

People will jump to the conclusion that this is a rich guy who got a plea deal that most people can't. The evidence, however, is that the vast majority of criminal charges are settled by a plea bargain where the defendant takes a lesser charge or a lesser sentence. It's completely unsubstantiated cynicism to say that's why Kamara got this deal.

Prosecutors take plea deals because trials are expensive and risky, and DA staffs are short and resources are limited. In Kamara's case, he was charged with battery resulting in serious injury and conspiracy to commit battery. Both of those charges have their challenges: the first charge requires the state prove the defendant's blows (as opposed to someone else's) caused the serious injury, and the conspiracy charge requires the state prove it was all planned ahead of time. Yes, there may be evidence of those charges but they also have their challenges that make trying the case risky. Especially if the victim consents (perhaps the $100K for medicals while still having a civil action pending) it makes it even easier for the prosecution to elect to plead it down. In other examples, the prosecutors use coercion and other forms of pressure to get defendants to take deals when perhaps they might not need to, or they're actually innocent. Either way, the result is almost always a plea deal.

But for some data: nationwide it appears that criminal charges are settled with a lesser plea in more than 95% of cases, and likely even higher. It is 98% in the federal system, and in excess of 97% in large states such as Texas, New York, and Pennsylvania. (See below).

The plea bargain rate in Nevada is at least 90% per a quick search, and likely higher than that.

https://www.npr.org/2023/02/22/1158356619/plea-bargains-criminal-cases-justice

Plea Bargains in Nevada: What Is It and How Does It Work | The Defenders

Understand the pros and cons of entering a plea bargain in the Nevada criminal justice system. Discover why it's important to consider all possible consequences before making a decision that could affect your future.

thedefenders.net

 

[44slayer]

Well Ive said it from jump, 6 game suspension isnt the worst thing in the world for both us and Kamara. He usually starts getting nicked up and/or worn down about about week 10-12. 6 games on the shelf would have him fresh down the stretch.

 

[superchuck500]

How dare Buzbee not come here and tell us.

That makes sense as well - could explain why the victim was willing to consent to the plea deal. I'm just presuming that the prosecution wanted the victim's consent, I don't think they have to have it, but it makes everything cleaner when all the interests are aligned.

 

[Brandon13]

Awesome, I figured it would end in a plea to something lesser.

 

[platinumvinnyv]

He maybe should have.

Put another way, if we watched the video and it wasn't a Saint, most folks on here would be all for jail and throw away the key for that "thug". Instead we're all 'whew, maybe only 3 game suspension.'

Would the video look something like this

 

[Brennan77]

From felony assault down to a misdemeanor breach of peace. That's some pretty sweet negotiating right there.

$$$

 

[ANKOMA33]

3 game suspension

Do you believe so? Man, I hope you're right.

 

[bouxdag]

People will jump to the conclusion that this is a rich guy who got a plea deal that most people can't. The evidence, however, is that the vast majority of criminal charges are settled by a plea bargain where the defendant takes a lesser charge or a lesser sentence. It's completely unsubstantiated cynicism to say that's why Kamara got this deal.

Prosecutors take plea deals because trials are expensive and risky, and DA staffs are short and resources are limited. In Kamara's case, he was charged with battery resulting in serious injury and conspiracy to commit battery. Both of those charges have their challenges: the first charge requires the state prove the defendant's blows (as opposed to someone else's) caused the serious injury, and the conspiracy charge requires the state prove it was all planned ahead of time. Yes, there may be evidence of those charges but they also have their challenges that make trying the case risky. Especially if the victim consents (perhaps the $100K for medicals while still having a civil action pending) it makes it even easier for the prosecution to elect to plead it down. In other examples, the prosecutors use coercion and other forms of pressure to get defendants to take deals when perhaps they might not need to, or they're actually innocent. Either way, the result is almost always a plea deal.

But for some data: nationwide it appears that criminal charges are settled with a lesser plea in more than 95% of cases, and likely even higher. It is 98% in the federal system, and in excess of 97% in large states such as Texas, New York, and Pennsylvania. (See below).

The plea bargain rate in Nevada is at least 90% per a quick search, and likely higher than that.

https://www.npr.org/2023/02/22/1158356619/plea-bargains-criminal-cases-justice

Plea Bargains in Nevada: What Is It and How Does It Work | The Defenders

Understand the pros and cons of entering a plea bargain in the Nevada criminal justice system. Discover why it's important to consider all possible consequences before making a decision that could affect your future.

thedefenders.net

I mean, that's all well and good.

But I'm not sure how you can argue that Kamara getting a plea deal at the same time his civil suit gets settled for "confidential" terms....isn't overwhelmingly likely that it's a case of a rich guy paying off the victim.

I would say, based on what you're saying, the civil suit might not have been for as much as most assume.

And for the record, I'm not saying I care about the "victim" at all. Just saying, I think it's overwhelmingly likely he got paid.

 

[Que Que 6]

$100k to victim? Settled cheap, must have extenuating issues for the "victim" not to cash in large.

thats just for medical. cash in pocket is "confidential". prob 1-2 millie

 

[superchuck500]

3 game suspension

I think that makes sense.

The policy says six games for violent conduct that results in felony charge(s). He was charged with felonies. But there's also a tradition of deferring to the result of the criminal case and not the charges. For example, a DUI charge that is later dismissed or reduced to something else doesn't get the 3-game suspension per the policy (which is also based on being "charged").

Kamara's felony charges go away so I think the league defers to that on the mandatory 6-game suspension. If the wasn't pretty clear video, I'd say he might even get 1 game, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's 3, which seems to sort of compromise at half. If Kamara agrees not to appeal, that might be way it goes down.

 

[Geldo]

Let's hope Roger doesn't roll.out his Saints special punishment clause