Nodine Gets Plea Deal, Prosecutor Seeks Prison Time
Steve Nodine agreed to a plea deal late Friday afternoon that dismissed murder charges against him. He pled guilty to harassment and perjury charges. Prosecutors said on Monday that they will seek jail time for the former murder suspect. The harassment charges are a misdemeanor, but the perjury charges are a felony. The misdemeanors carry year sentences, while the perjury charge can lead to up to ten years in prison.
A jury found Nodine guilty of ethics violations back in December, but could not agree on murder charges levied against him. A retrial was scheduled, but ultimately a plea deal was sought because prosecutors did not feel they could convince a jury beyond reasonable doubt that Nodine was guilty. Nodine was being charged with the May 2010 shooting death of girlfriend Angel Downs.
Nodine already spent 15 months in prison on gun charges. He was found to be in possession of two firearms while using marijuana. The perjury charges stem from telling the court he had no money for an attorney, and are the most serious Nodine now faces. Nodine pulled money from his bank account before making the claim that he could not afford an attorney.
The plea deal means the Steve Nodine saga will soon be coming to an end. The drama surrounding the case has gone on for over two years. The case has gripped the area, dominating local news coverage for some time.
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