Big threats. Big charges designed to garner a plea and thus an easy win. Then a plea deal, that in this case does not warrant all the time and effort expended by an office that is coming apart at the seams.
What are we down to, 8 or 9 prosecutors? From 19? That's a HUGE gap, and the poor fresh-out-of-school hires are trying to carry all that weight.
Now this "important" front-page case fizzles. It's as if once the Supervisor's kid isn't in the mix, all the fun went out of it.
They were charged with 11 felonies. Only one plead to one simple felony (the other a Misdemeanor, and another dismissal.) And one never made it past the preliminary hearing.
◼ Two men in Fortuna pepper spray case plead no contest to reduced charges - Times-Standard
Gregory Stephens and Wyatt Williamson had faced a number of felony charges including: first degree burglary, attempted kidnapping, two felony counts of false imprisonment by violence, and two misdemeanor counts of false imprisonment by violence.
Stephens pleaded no contest to a single felony charge of use of tear gas or a tear gas weapon for purposes other than self-defense. He faces a maximum sentence of three years in jail and up to five years probation. He's scheduled to be sentenced May 30.
Williamson pleaded no contest to a single count of misdemeanor false imprisonment, and was immediately sentenced to three years probation and 10 days in jail. He was credited for one day served. He is scheduled to turn himself over to the jail on May 11.
The single charge of first degree burglary against Loleta dairyman James O'Neil was dismissed.
