The two men who were arrested in connection with the kidnapping of a 10-year-old Northridge girl in March may be close to striking plea bargains and avoiding trial, a San Fernando Superior Court judge said.

This was a case that garnished lots of media attention due to the fact that these two men allegedly kidnapped this girl from her bedroom, sexually assaulted her at multiple locations, then dropped her off at a hospital later in the day.  One of the men then fled to Mexico and was apprehended nearly a month later at a drug rehab center.

A preliminary hearing was set for this past Monday where the prosecutors would have to lay out their case against the two men and show that there is enough probable cause to believe that a crime was committed and enough probable cause to believe that this person was the one who committed this crime.  This hearing was postponed as there was talk of negotiated plea bargain deals for both men.

Plea bargains can be a valuable resource for people charged with crimes of every caliber.  For smaller, less serious offenses, a plea bargain can be a way to avoid jail and excessive fines.  For more serious offenses, plea bargains can be a way for someone to avoid the death penalty, life without parole or excessive state prison time.

If you have been charged with a crime, a plea bargain may be an attractive option.  The reason being, if you choose to go to a trial and are convicted, you are then sentenced by a judge who has total discretion to sentence you to anything from probation to the maximum punishment by law.  The uncertainty of being sentenced by a judge can sometimes make a plea bargain a better hedged bet.  When you enter into a plea deal with the prosecutor, you know exactly what your sentence is, fines, probation, classes and the like.  You know what to expect and what preparations need to be made ahead of time.

If you have questions about a plea bargain or going to trial for any crime in Los Angeles, Hollywood, Culver City, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Pasadena or Burbank, contact attorney Ross Erlich to discuss your options free of charge.  You should know what choices you have and what the potential implications of those decisions may be.