CO - Jessica Ridgeway, 10, Westminster, 5 Oct. 2012 - #24 *GUILTY PLEA*

[eileenhawkeye]

Is charging the defendant with "a lot" of counts a relatively new trend? I noticed that Sigg was charged with 11 counts for Jessica's murder. But in other past cases where a child is abducted and later found murdered, the counts were much less. David Westerfield was charged with three counts for Danielle Van Dam's murder. Alejandro Avila was charged with four counts for Samantha Runnion's murder. John Couey was charged with four counts for Jessica Lunsford's murder. Austin Sigg was charged with four counts of 1st-degree murder but Alejandro Avilia was only charged with one count of murder, same for David Westerfield.

 

[GulfCoastKAT]

Is charging the defendant with "a lot" of counts a relatively new trend? I noticed that Sigg was charged with 11 counts for Jessica's murder. But in other past cases where a child is abducted and later found murdered, the counts were much less. David Westerfield was charged with three counts for Danielle Van Dam's murder. Alejandro Avila was charged with four counts for Samantha Runnion's murder. John Couey was charged with four counts for Jessica Lunsford's murder. Austin Sigg was charged with four counts of 1st-degree murder but Alejandro Avilia was only charged with one count of murder, same for David Westerfield.

Maybe to have lots of options for the jury to convict on?

 

[PrairieWind]

The Prosecutors should drop the sexual assault charges in exchange for a guilty plea. The evidence for sexual assault sounds weak at best, and wouldn't substantially effect his sentence anyway. Dragging this case out on that principal, is just crazy. But the lawyers and judges have to make their money I guess.

It is pretty unclear what the evidence is. The DA is not telling us much, understandably. There are a few reasons to keep that charge on there. The want as many convictions as possible to make his prison stay as long as possible. But almost certainly he will eventually get out of prison. With a sexual assault conviction, and sex offender status, there could be better options to to control/track him. Now, if the evidence is in fact very weak, then I would agree with you that it should perhaps be traded away for the guilty plea.

 

[gregjrichards]

The Prosecutors should drop the sexual assault charges in exchange for a guilty plea. The evidence for sexual assault sounds weak at best, and wouldn't substantially effect his sentence anyway. Dragging this case out on that principal, is just crazy. But the lawyers and judges have to make their money I guess.

I believe that if there is any evidence whatsoever of sexual assault he should be charged and tried for it no exceptions. They have to go for everything they can to keep him in jail as long as possible before he gets eligible for parole. The role of a prosecutor is very hard and I hope they don't accept a plea just because it is easier and cheaper for the state. I don't believe he will be rehabilitated and may be even more dangerous if he gets out of jail. I pay he gets life without parole.

 

[borndem]

I believe that if there is any evidence whatsoever of sexual assault he should be charged and tried for it no exceptions. They have to go for everything they can to keep him in jail as long as possible before he gets eligible for parole. The role of a prosecutor is very hard and I hope they don't accept a plea just because it is easier and cheaper for the state. I don't believe he will be rehabilitated and may be even more dangerous if he gets out of jail. I pay he gets life without parole.

I agree, greg -- IIRC, AS was under 18 when he committed these crimes -- If I am wrong about that, then my forthcoming argument won't be as strong. The US Supreme Court said that Life/LWOP was not to be given to those who were less than 18y/o at the time of the crime. So, IMO, they need to charge him with everything they can so that he will have a long string of time to serve. I have seen, in NC, those who certainly were over 18 at the time of their crimes, sentenced to, for example, 30 years for rape + 10 years for burglary + 20 years for kidnapping + LWOP, each to be served consecutively. This seemingly unnecessary consecutive sentencing is, IMO, a type of "insurance" for the State in case the LWOP is overturned, and it is a way to show that the particular defendant has committed the worst type of crimes. It's not always done, but I certainly have seen it.

I would have to agree on a penalty for this man if the sexual assault was omitted, if I were the prosecutor. Avoiding a trial would be a great thing if it could be done with severe penalties for this man.

 

[borndem]

raying:

Oh, Kimster, what a pretty little girl. That smile, her perfect complexion, those sweet little eyes. All she wanted was to be a cheerleader.

It's just so dayam wrong.

 

[Cashew]

Is he entering a plea today?

 

[The Cheese]

Is he entering a plea today?

Yes. This tweet is from the DA office yesterday. The hearing is at 1:30pm today

DA Peter A. Weir ‏@JeffcoDA_CO 24h
Austin #Sigg has arraignment scheduled for tomorrow, 4/12, 1:30, Div 11, Jeffco courts.

 

[The Cheese]

The man who confessed to 911 dispatchers that he killed 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway is expected to enter a plea on Friday afternoon.

Austin Sigg was scheduled to be arraigned last month, but his attorneys asked for a two-month delay. The judge granted them one month.

When attorneys requested the delay, they mentioned Sigg's mental health, indicating a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity was still on the table.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/new...se-suspect-austin-sigg-expected-to-enter-plea

 

[The Cheese]

Reporters will not be able to tweet during it.

Amanda Kost, 7NEWS ‏@AmandaKost 2m
#JusticeForJessica Arraignment set for 1:30 today. No cell phones allowed in courtroom. I will update ASAP.

 

[The Cheese]

9NEWS Denver ‏@9NEWS 3m
BREAKING: Austin Sigg pleads not guilty on all charges. Sigg accused of killing Jessica Ridgeway from Westminster.

 

[eileenhawkeye]

Ugh. Looks like there is going to be a trial. It will probably take about 2-3 years before it even starts. -_- Just think about how long it took us just to get to this plea.

 

[The Cheese]

Amanda Kost, 7NEWS ‏@AmandaKost 1m
#JusticeForJessica Suspect's attorneys wanted more time to decide plea-Assuming denial entered NOT GUILTY *Able to modify plea at later date

 

[The Cheese]

Amanda Kost, 7NEWS ‏@AmandaKost 1m
#BREAKING #JusticeForJessica Defense can change plea. Trial slated to last 2 1/2 weeks. Jury screening starts September 20

 

[eileenhawkeye]

Defense can change plea. Trial slated to last 2 1/2 weeks. Jury screening starts September 20

 

[eileenhawkeye]

Jury screening starts September 20...So I guess they are holding the trial in Jefferson County? I wonder if the defense will ask for a hearing to request a venue change.

2 1/2 weeks seems kind of short for this type of trial. I'm going to look up similar trials to see how long they were.

Maybe it won't take 2-3 years to start after all. I could see a 2014 trial....

 

[The Cheese]

Amanda Kost, 7NEWS ‏@AmandaKost 39s
#JusticeForJessica Not Guilty on all counts incl. attempted abduction of jogger. *Plea can be modified, including Not guilty insanity

 

[kai]

I feel so bad for Jessica's family and friends to have to go through a trial now.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

 

[PrairieWind]

Jury screening starts September 20...So I guess they are holding the trial in Jefferson County? I wonder if the defense will ask for a hearing to request a venue change.

2 1/2 weeks seems kind of short for this type of trial. I'm going to look up similar trials to see how long they were.

Maybe it won't take 2-3 years to start after all. I could see a 2014 trial....

There is really no reason that a trial should take any longer than that. I have seen quite complicated murder trials involving DNA results and other complicated evidence be completed in this area in less than 3 weeks and that includes jury selection. We often see these trials (often out of California) where jury selection takes weeks and the trial takes months. That is virtually unheard of around here.

 

[i8mypaint]

I am so angry about this. No reason for Jessica's family to endure a trail.