Judge Nixes Plea Deal as Too Harsh for Litigator Who Admitted Illegal Contributions to Edwards
A Los Angeles litigator known for his celebrity clients was willing to serve six months in prison after pleading guilty to making illegal campaign contributions to John Edwards.
But the lawyer, Pierce O’Donnell, won’t be serving any time—at least not right away—because a federal judge rejected the deal as too harsh, report the National Law Journal (reg. req.) and the Associated Press.
U.S. District Judge James Otero noted that O’Donnell had pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors and said prison was not appropriate. Otero characterized O’Donnell as a man with “impeccable character” who had a lapse in judgment. The judge said O’Donnell should serve six months of home detention during a three-year sentence of probation so the lawyer could continue psychiatric treatment, the NLJ says.
O’Donnell was accused of reimbursing $26,000 to law firm employees and others who contributed to Edwards’ 2004 presidential campaign. After Otero nixed the sentence, prosecutors vowed to take the case to trial on felony charges. They noted O’Donnell had previously pleaded no contest to state misdemeanor charges claiming he used a false name to make campaign contributions to a mayoral candidate.
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