Gallo's plea, "Not Guilty"

by jtkelly86 on Jun 8, 2009 12:24 PM PDT Comment 31 comments

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Apparently Andrew Thomas Gallo, who killed Nick Adenhart, Courtney Stewart, and Henry Pearson has pleaded, "Not Guilty". His attorney has asserted that he wanted the venue changed out of Orange County and Fullerton because he will not receive a fair trial at those venues.

I don't understand how his attorney, Randall T. Longwith, could even think of going with a "not guilty" plea for this case. The facts clearly indicate that Gallo A. Was driving with a suspended license. B. Was driving 3 times over the legal limit, C. Ran a red light and crashed into a car, killing three individuals and causing internal decapitation to the fourth.

Gallo is already going to spend the rest of his functional life, about 55 years, in prison if convicted. The facts clearly indicate that he was at fault, I don't understand why this lawyer is creating this publicity stunt to try to gain sympathy for his client that clearly didn't have the self-control to learn from his past mistakes.

No matter where this man is tried, he will go to prison for life, so please Mr. Longwith, save our taxpayer's dollars and let Mr. Gallo accept the consequences of his actions, plead guilty, spend the rest of his life in prison, and put some sort of closure to this sad incident.

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Just read this

I hope someone shivs this douche.

The time is out of joint; oh cursed spite, that ever I was born to set it right.

by chairmanofthebar on Jun 8, 2009 12:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Sorry I'm using my one F....

Fuck you Andrew Gallo, you dumb drunk driving piece of shit. I hope you go away for life. You are a shining example many of the things wrong with our justice system. You should never have been allowed to drive a vehicle with your past. May you never see a day of freedom again.

R.I.P. Nick, Courtney, and Henry.
Get well Jon.

Again sorry. But it had to be said..

by Monkeyspanked on Jun 8, 2009 1:53 PM PDT reply actions 3 recs

Truth be told

he pretty much has to plead not guilty at this point. It’s just arraignment. Even if he were to plead guilty, the arraigning judge couldn’t sentence him.

With respect to the lawyer, Gallo’s attorney owes him a duty to represent him to the best of his capabilities. It’s not about a publicity stunt. It’s about providing him with his constitutional rights to ensure that the government does its job in prosecuting him. He has a right to representation, and the lawyer is obliged to do what’s best for Gallo, within the law. That’s how the legal system works.

by jjackflash on Jun 8, 2009 2:24 PM PDT reply actions 6 recs

+1 for this recognition

in fact even if he believed Gallo is better off pleading guilty and Gallo wanted to plead otherwise, he’d be obligated to enter the Not Guilty plea.

Driven into right-center field, Erstad says he has it...the Angels, world champions!

by teopeht on Jun 8, 2009 2:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for posting.

Sometimes people’s emotions get in the way of reality. I don’t think anyone is rooting on Andrew Gallo, but this is how the legal system works, and you’ll be grateful should you ever be in a legal bind. Hopefully, this won’t drag out too long, and family, friends, and fans alike see justice.

Apologies in advance.

by Red114 on Jun 8, 2009 5:00 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Curious concept to "see justice".

I dont’ believe there is any possible way for us to dispense “justice” in a case like this…not even close. What could we possibly do to the defendant that comes anywhere close to restoring/replacing the 3 lost lives or the one forever altered? NOTHING…ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NOTHING.

Even if there was a death penalty, the lives of 3 generally decent people for the life of one low level scumbag is not a “just” exchange.

Whatever sentence he receives, whatever good deeds he does from here forward, they cannot possibly equate anywhere near nor make-up for the damage he wrought with one careless act. If you have ever had a friend, relative, or loved one taken in a similar (or worse) act, you know EXACTLY what I mean.

You can call his eventual fate at the hands of the legal community many things. Justice is not one of them.

FWIW, I am not in favor of torturing him. I am not in favor of the death penalty either, because I do not believe he intended to harm 4 innocent individuals. He is/was a careless jerk that probably didn’t value his life any more than he valued the lives of those he took. Too sad for words.

by sothball on Jun 8, 2009 7:01 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

You're preaching to the choir...

I understand your point, and I get that no punishment will ever equal the suffering the families are enduring, and will continue endure, for the rest of their lives.

That being said, there is a pending trial, and at the conclusion of said trial, there will presumably be some sort of punishment handed down to the defendant. There are certainly varying degrees of penalties and sentences. So in this case, by “justice”, I am referring to the most severe punishment allowable by law.

the lives of 3 generally decent people for the life of one low level scumbag is not a "just" exchange.

Is that really what you got from my statement?

Apologies in advance.

by Red114 on Jun 8, 2009 11:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

What I reacted to was the concept that "justice" will somehow be rendered...

…or that we will “see justice” with the most severe penalty allowed by law.

30 years from now, this miserable individual likely will have spent a significant part of his life in confinement, with access to 3 meals a day, TV, books, music, weight rooms, conjugal visits, and some level of comraderie (all at the expense of us tax-payers). He will not have freedom, but he will have the most precious gift that he took from three others, the gift of life.
in those same 30 years, the lives of the 3 killed by this pathetic loser will likely be faded memories to all but their closest friends and relatives. To them, they will still ponder…what could have been…what should have been.

We cannot “see justice” from whatever sentence is rendered. It is not possible. To call it such reduces the value of the lives lost by his senseless act.

I hope this clarified my point.

by sothball on Jun 9, 2009 5:38 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Plus nobody ever wants to spend an extended time in jail no matter how heinous their crime.

Pleading innocent gives you the possibility that twelve jurors will get it wrong somehow. It worked for O. J. Simpson the first time around.

I am the Iron Man

by 44FAN on Jun 9, 2009 12:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

pleading not guilty will just up the punishment when he's convicted

RIP Nick Adenhart

by ihearhowie2.0 on Jun 8, 2009 3:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

no it won't

by jjackflash on Jun 8, 2009 3:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i thought pleading guilty reduced sentences?

RIP Nick Adenhart

by ihearhowie2.0 on Jun 8, 2009 4:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nope

You’re probably thinking of a negotiated plea deal, where the prosecution accepts a plea to a lesser charge, and you get a lesser sentence because you’re pleading to a lesser charge.

First of all, that doesn’t happen at this stage of the proceedings in a case like this. Assuming there’s a preliminary hearing, it would happen after that. If Gallo waives prelim, it would happen once the case is assigned to a trial department (this was just arraignment court).

More importantly, though, at this point, the DA wants to pursue the murder charges; in order to get Gallo to plead guilty (and ensure a lesser sentence from the judge), the DA would have to agree to reduce the charges to manslaughter. This case is far too high profile, for one thing. For another, it’s a pretty solid murder case as far as this type of thing goes. There’s no real incentive for the DA to bargain the case down at this point.

by jjackflash on Jun 8, 2009 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

I blame Gallo for everything thats gone wrong this year........

Efffin piece of crap………

Godspeed Nick - RIP - 1986-2009

by norcaliangelsfan on Jun 8, 2009 4:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Too far removed to be a scapegoat now

I agree that he affected the team the first several weeks in April. But I cannot excuse what continues to be an awful bullpen based on that tragedy. The players on this team need to be accountable for their performances. The relievers in particular are better than they are performing.

That being said, I hope that Gallo gets a fair trial, is convicted, and goes to jail for the rest of his life.

by Brody on Jun 8, 2009 8:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Only one thing has gone terribly wrong this year

the other stuff is just baseball.

by HungryHunter on Jun 8, 2009 10:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Andrew Gallo, Murderer of Angels Pitcher Adenhart Update

RIP NICK ADENHART

by Funke5ive on Jun 9, 2009 1:39 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

thanks

RIP Nick

by ladybug on Jun 9, 2009 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

should"ve pleaded "shitheaded douchewad"

Free Sean Rodriguez

by HaloDutch on Jun 9, 2009 6:51 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow...

I cannot believe this son of a bitch plead not guilty. What an absolute piece of shit. I mean, if I’m the jury or the judge, I’d give him life simply for not owning up to is mistake. Unbelievable…

by matt92130 on Jun 9, 2009 9:18 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Get Real

I explained the legal principles up above.

by jjackflash on Jun 9, 2009 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

voice of reason

everybody get’s their day in court. This is not North Korea and his (probably court appointed) attorney is doing what he is trained to do. Frankly, if I were his attorney, just based on these posts, I’d go for a change of venue too.

This season just seems jinxed. If it can go wrong, it does

by Moondoggy on Jun 9, 2009 1:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Of course you are right...

…but this is one of the most frustrating things about our judicial system. This is an open & shut case, and yet tax payer dollars will go towards giving him the opportunity for fairness, when it wasn’t fair what happened that night after that game in April.

I’m still angry at Fuentes for blowing that game for Nick, even though the causation thoughts are irrational.

In Remembrance of Nick Adenhart, Courtney Stewart, Henry Pearson. Heal soon Jon Wilhite.

I want Andrew Thomas Gallo to be a pinata, and the Angels supply the bats...

by Slasher52 on Jun 9, 2009 11:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh jesus

Quit being such a poitician.

by matt92130 on Jun 21, 2009 6:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wonder if Jim Leyritz is getting the same kind of venom down in Florida?

not that is not deserved

This season just seems jinxed. If it can go wrong, it does

by Moondoggy on Jun 9, 2009 1:30 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I read somewhere that the lady he killed was drunk as well. I wonder if that is somewhat of a mitigating circumstance legally… probably not

RIP Nick Adenhart, #34

by Higz on Jun 9, 2009 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It depends

from a criminal standpoint, not really. From a civil standpoint, though, it might. I really don’t remember what happened. Was she driving a vehicle as well? Wandering into the street? If so, in a civil context, she could be contributorily negligent, thereby reducing any civil award to her heirs by her percentage of fault.

by jjackflash on Jun 9, 2009 3:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure

I know she was driving because she also wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. Not sure if she was stopped though or moving. She appears to bear some responsibility in this.

RIP Nick Adenhart, #34

by Higz on Jun 9, 2009 3:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs