On January 8, 2018, Judge Craig Hellmann called the prosecutor and the three defense attorneys into his chambers for a last minute unexpected meeting.

Judge Hellmann rejected as too lenient the plea deal Parks was offering whereby the defendants would plead guilty to Count 2 receiving stolen property and Count 3 Felony Murder amended to Involuntary Manslaughter, 7 years; Total time served: 7 years.

Since the judge did this, the February 6th hearing was postponed.

This SECOND plea deal prosecutor Parks put forth is even more lenient than the one that Judge Wood rejected in Oct 2017. WHY?

Immediately after Judge Hellmann rejected this second plea deal, Parks produced his third recommendation, which this time is not a plea deal. It is merely a plea on the part of the defendants, with no quid pro quo. See the following:

plea deal 1 — Aug 2017:
* Count 1 Burglary 1st, 10 years
* Count 2 receiving stolen property dismissed
* Count 3 Felony Murder amended to Involuntary Manslaughter, 7 years
Counts 1 and 3 to run concurrently, hence 10 years
** rejected as too lenient by Judge Wood on 10/20/17.

plea deal 2 — Jan 2018:
* Count 1 Burglary 1st is dismissed
* Count 2 receiving stolen property reinstated
* Count 3 Felony Murder amended to Involuntary Manslaughter, 7 years
Total time served: 7 years
** rejected as too lenient by Judge Hellmann on 1/8/18

plea (recommendation number 3) — Feb 2018:
* Count 1 Burglary 1st is dismissed
* Count 2 receiving stolen property is dismissed
* Count 3 Felony Murder amended to Involuntary Manslaughter, 7 years
Total time served: 7 years
** TBD