I am not finding the rationale either. The public may not have all the information yet, however, I don't recall any other case where a deal such as this was made before charging the suspect/defendant. Fortunately due to EB's age, a 25-30 year sentence may be life - that is, IF she is charged with murder. MOO
bbm
I agree, and want to add that not only
IF she is charged with 2nd degree murder, but also
IF she is convicted, and
IF she receives the maximum penalty of 600 months (making her eligible for parole in about 25 years, maybe even sooner, according to the Fair Sentencing Act guidelines).
Under the Fair Sentencing Act, an offender's sentence is reduced by half upon arrival into the DOC (including time incarcerated while awaiting trial and/or awaiting sentencing), and the offender can also earn what is called Good Time - a sentence reduction credit awarded for good behavior @ the rate of one day Good Time credit for each day served in prison. There is also a Gained Time credit awarded to inmates who participate in work & program activities. North Carolina participates in the Good Time & Gained Time sentence reduction parole process.
http://www.doc.state.nc.us/victimse...GuidetotheNorthCarolinaParoleProcessrev04.pdf
So even
IF EB is charged, convicted, and sentenced to the maximum penalty of 600 months (for 2nd degree murder, a Class B2 felony), it's entirely possible she would only serve a fraction of that sentence before being eligible for parole - say, 150 months, or 12.5 years, maybe even less (if I've interpreted the North Carolina parole process correctly & have done the math properly).
As you stated, Panthera, the public does not have all the information, but in my mind, it seems there are a few too many IFs (i.e. uncomfortable variables), considering the circumstances of this especially heinous crime against a defenseless little girl.
MOO