GUILTY PA - Jessica Padgett, 32, Northampton County, 21 November 2014

[Ghostl8y]

oh boy, this suggests to me that he will plead not guilty.

http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/...y-graf-prominent-attorney-20141214-story.html

Seems that way, doesn't it? This guy is so self absorbed that he probably feels he did nothing wrong and deserves to be free. How can he possibly plead not guilty. Is he going to deny it's him in the video? That Jessica "made him do it"? Boy, if this guy ever walks free in the community again, I sure feel sorry for him (well, not really). He is public enemy #1. There'd likely be a lynch mob.

I'm hoping he'll get additional years added on to his sentence, like Ashley Kline's killers just got. I believe they got life plus 40 years. At 53 years of age, a nice sentence like that would guarantee he'd die in jail before walking free.

 

[Madeleine74]

He'll never be free. He's on video abusing the corpse of his stepdaughter after murdering her and he admitted to it. He's toast.

 

[heartgoesout]

^ agreed. I apologize for the rambling. I've got so many questions and thoughts. So he hires a high profile, high cost lawyer (so much for not depleting money from his family), or did the attorney come to him? Why the big dog attorney? Seems these other high profile cases this attorney took on all ended up with guilty verdicts anyway. If GG pleads guilty than the attorney is simply arguing for the least possible sentence and GG rights as a defendant. Is he really that good at lessening sentences? I don't think so. At the end of the day the law is the law. It's not like he has a history of getting these dirtbags off, thus justifying paying him big bucks.
Would GG wife be able to fight the high cost attorney? Can she argue that it is her money too and GG should find a more reasonably priced attorney? I just don't see why this attorney would want to attach his name to GG and do this for free. What is the benefit? I think only money. It is not good publicity to represent such an evil crime. So maybe GG is paying him and it's not for publicity. I just don't get it.
So does this mean he plans on pleading not guilty? High profile attorney for the ole razzle dazzle show. The best of the best to get him off? I just don't see how he can plead not guilty. He admitted to the crime. It is not circumstantial evidence. I'm spinning! aargh!

What benefit would he gain from pleading not guilty given the fact he admitted to the crime etc... we need an attorney on here to explain this all!

 

[Madeleine74]

Well so much for the prediction that no high profile defense attorney would ever take this case.

 

[Tealgrove]

He's going to plead not guilty by reason of mental defect or something to that effect. He hasn't denied he did it but the claim will be that he has some mental illness and that he had no control, blah blah blah. The big name lawyer will argue the mental defect or whatever. He's using whatever he has left in his arsenal to limit his jail time. Maybe he'd prefer life in a mental institution rather than prison?

It just seems that anytime anyone gets caught and they admit the crime and then there is irrefutable evidence to support what has happened out pops the mental illness defence.

It sickens me that cold blooded killers play this game. He deserves the death penalty but that won't come his way either. Jessica paid the ultimate price and this disgusting excuse for a man will get the full benefit of judge, jury, lawyers, doctors etc.

I just can't stand it.

 

[heartgoesout]

If he pleads not guilty (I throw up in my mouth a little saying that) I pray that the jury is educated and sharp. My first thought is no one is going to buy he's insane when he ran successful businesses, and has no history of violence. A jury would surely see this right? BUT we really don't know anything about this man other than what has been reported, which in reality has been very little. We know he has a history of drug related charges. He is an avid hunter. He owns at least two businesses. However, we don't know if those businesses are successful or if he even really had his hands in it. He could have been the crazy guy while the wife and employees ran the show. Maybe he has a history of suicide attempts or had a traumatic head injury. Anyway my point is this could get real complicated.

 

[TTF14]

If he pleads not guilty (I throw up in my mouth a little saying that) I pray that the jury is educated and sharp. My first thought is no one is going to buy he's insane when he ran successful businesses, and has no history of violence. A jury would surely see this right? BUT we really don't know anything about this man other than what has been reported, which in reality has been very little. We know he has a history of drug related charges. He is an avid hunter. He owns at least two businesses. However, we don't know if those businesses are successful or if he even really had his hands in it. He could have been the crazy guy while the wife and employees ran the show. Maybe he has a history of suicide attempts or had a traumatic head injury. Anyway my point is this could get real complicated.

BBM.

I just pray for the jury, period. I can't imagine being on that jury and having to view those videos. (Or the family in the courtroom--even worse).

 

[Calamitjane]

Hi - I am new but have read the majority of this thread. Wanted to share two pieces of info I read on family fb pages that struck me as odd . The first is from Jessica's mother's page. I can't remember the date but was in 2013. She was talking about how jessica had left her cell phone at Distinctive Fences accidentally and that it was plugged into the wall, but when Jessica returned for the phone it had just disappeared. They seemed to have no clue what happened to the phone. I just wonder if they ever found it and if GG had anything to do with that. Might would show how long he has been obsessing over her. The second was on GG's daughter in law's (Janna)page - is a picture of Stromboli with a semi suggestive comment and I think he said something like "take a bite out of that" - was just disgusting . Anyway I jave appreciated reading all the insightful comments everyone here has posted. This case has really taken my attention. My heart breaks for this poor family. I can't even imagine.

 

[Madeleine74]

A jury isn't going to have any problem convicting him. They will see him on video doing his deeds to his stepdaughter. There is no way around that. He won't be able to claim he is or was insane because he took pains to hide evidence of committing a crime and therefore he knew right from wrong and that he had done something very wrong.

This is a slam dunk case.

- Video evidence
- Confession by the perp
- Probable forensic evidence

What more could you possibly need? You have direct evidence and circumstantial evidence!

 

[heartgoesout]

I completely agree it's a slam dunk case. That's why I'm rambling above. Why the big dog lawyer? Why take on another losing case? Why attach your name to these sickening criminals? This case should be wham bam, guilty plea, formalities of the system and he rots away.
This article gives a little insight to my questions. So I guess the lawyer is like hey, I am the best, you want to hire me, I'll bring the best experience and I'll take your money. January 30 next hearing. Is the preliminary hearing when the plea is entered?

http://www.ctnow.com/news/breaking/...f-prominent-attorney-20141214,0,1836747.story

 

[heartgoesout]

Welcome calamitjane, glad to have you join us!

 

[ninij9]

Maybe he has the hotshot lawyer because he's hoping to rat on some big drug buddies in exchange for a somewhat lighter sentence for his terrible crimes? LE loves to nail drug rings. ( yeah, I'm slightly stuck on his marijuana angle here. )

 

[Madeleine74]

Maybe he has the hotshot lawyer because he's hoping to rat on some big drug buddies in exchange for a somewhat lighter sentence for his terrible crimes? LE loves to nail drug rings. ( yeah, I'm slightly stuck on his marijuana angle here. )

no the state will not plead this down. It's first degree murder. Worst of the worst.

 

[heartgoesout]

A first degree murder conviction in Pennsylvania is a mandatory life sentence. If deemed mentally ill he will serve out his sentence at a mental institution and if ever deemed fit he will serve out the rest of his sentence in prison. I feel like I'm missing something. What does this attorney have up his sleeve? In reading some of his other high profile cases, it will be something none of us ever thought of.

 

[Ontario Mom]

Maybe the hotshot attorney took the case because it's so outrageous/scandalous, but not necessarily planning on any tricks up his sleeves? It's certainly one way to get your name out there...

Just guessing. This whole case is so OUT THERE nothing would surprise me at this point.

 

[Ghostl8y]

Hi - I am new but have read the majority of this thread. Wanted to share two pieces of info I read on family fb pages that struck me as odd . The first is from Jessica's mother's page. I can't remember the date but was in 2013. She was talking about how jessica had left her cell phone at Distinctive Fences accidentally and that it was plugged into the wall, but when Jessica returned for the phone it had just disappeared. They seemed to have no clue what happened to the phone. I just wonder if they ever found it and if GG had anything to do with that. Might would show how long he has been obsessing over her. The second was on GG's daughter in law's (Janna)page - is a picture of Stromboli with a semi suggestive comment and I think he said something like "take a bite out of that" - was just disgusting . Anyway I jave appreciated reading all the insightful comments everyone here has posted. This case has really taken my attention. My heart breaks for this poor family. I can't even imagine.

Thanks for the input, and welcome! This makes me wonder if he'd had a history of inappropriate behaviors towards female family members. Seems like a lecherous pig to me, sadly that's not a crime. I really wonder if he harbors his sick fantasies towards other, much younger female family members. That's pretty creepy about the phone. If it was GG that took it, what a total invasion of privacy. I can imagine him enthusiastically leering at her personal photos, reading all of her personal and private texts, possibly even entering her email account and reading there. Creep.

 

[Ghostl8y]

Are they having a separate trial for the drugs? I haven't seen anywhere that he's been formally charged yet regarding that. Just mention that the drugs were found, but they don't seem to be lumping that issue in with this case. I wonder if they are still investigating on that end, and will have separate charges pending? If that's the case, he can't strike a plea deal by ratting out his fellow losers in his drug business, as it would have nothing to do with this case, but would be a totally separate one.

I'd like to see him try to say he's "insane". If he did use TWO cameras, possibly on tripods, and stopped/started/repositioned the filming, it'd be hard to say he "blacked out" or acted on total impulse, or was not in control of his actions. Clearly he thought out exactly what he was doing and wanted to accomplish. God, this guy really creeps me out. I'm so sorry that this happened, but I'm glad a person like this is no longer on the streets and able to harm anyone else, ever.

I wonder if the scum has started killing and mounting cockroaches yet in his dingy, dirty little cell.

 

[Madeleine74]

Maybe the hotshot attorney took the case because it's so outrageous/scandalous, but not necessarily planning on any tricks up his sleeves? It's certainly one way to get your name out there...

Just guessing. This whole case is so OUT THERE nothing would surprise me at this point.

That's exactly it. Publicity! Free Publicity! Big notorious cases attract all kinds of high profile attorneys. Not because they think the killer is innocent, but because it gets their name and their firm's name out there in a very national and sometimes international way, all for free. Sure there will be h8ers, but this is the way it works. Competition for famous and infamous cases. It's not about winning this big case, because it can't be won, it's all about generating future business. Has been happening as long as any of us have followed crime cases:

- OJ Simpson ("dream team" high profile attorneys)
- Scott Peterson (Mark Geragos)

Just to name a couple. And yes, if a defense attorney CAN win a big case they sure do want to. They are bound by their legal oath to provide a defense and represent their client or otherwise could be disbarred.

 

[Calamitjane]

Does he not have the option of waiving the right to a trial ?

 

[OliveEliot]

Calamitjane -- A person can waive his or her right to a preliminary hearing. Also, a person can plead guilty to a charge, thereby avoiding a trial. (these are two totally separate events, by the way.) But I've not heard the terminology you've used--waiving one's right to a trial.