Charge: Second Degree Murder
Client was a prisoner in Florida State Prison and got into an argument with his
cell mate over the cell mate touching his belongings and taking them from him.
A fight ensued and the client smashed his head in and the cell mate died. The
penalty for this offense was life in prison and the State would not make an offer
on the case due to the severity of the offense. After a thorough evaluation of the
case, and having the client seen by our forensic psychologist and being
diagnosed with severe mental health issues and uncovering the fact that the
client was not properly Mirandized, thereby preventing his statement from being
used at trial, the State offered 20 years in prison and the client had already
served five years to be credited towards the 20 years so the client accepted the
offer to allow him the possibility of a life outside of prison. None of his prior
