Tevis Law Firm, LLC.

As I have explained previously, once a lawyer discusses the strengths/weaknesses of the evidence with his/her client, explains the risk/benefit expectations at trial, and relays the State's plea offer to the client, whether to accept a plea is exclusively up to the client. The lawyer may give advice, but does not decide whether a defendant takes a plea or has a trial - the defendant chooses and the Judge asks, on the record, if he is sure that is what he wants to do.As you know, this case was pending for 3 years prior to our involvement. During those years prior to our representation, his two co-defendants, and others, cooperated with the State and agreed to testify against him. They testified that they were in the car with him and he was the shooter. There were also incriminating Facebook messages, and Cell Tower evidence showing the route the vehicle took to and from the scene which also corroborated the co-defendants' testimony as well as the timeline. That evidence, along with the other evidence including statements from informants housed with him inside the jail, and witnesses claiming he had taken credit for the shooting, etc. were likely factors impacting his decision to accept the State's plea offer rather than proceed to trial and risk life without parole. Of course, the plea was entered under the provisions of the US Supreme Court Case Alford v. North Carolina where the Defendant does not admit guilt, but enters the plea because he believes it to be in his best interest to avoid the risks of potential conviction at a trial.The transcript, which lays out the state's evidence and the informants' testimony, is available in the clerk's office, as is the letter from the co-defendant to the DA explaining that he wanted to cooperate with them against your brother. Because I still represent your brother in a pending matter it would not be appropriate to discuss any non-public specifics of the case in a public forum. Please feel free to contact me directly to discuss your specific concerns.

Thank you for your kind words, Zach. I wish you all the best and know you will succeed.