Wait, I'm out of the loop. How is he now facing life? I thought Incest was a 10 year max sentence or something? Did they add additional charges already?
They issued a press release claiming they're going to add more charges. I suppose they could change their mind and only add some oddball charge like stealing that $750, if he even did that. Rape goes up to life, though, and seems to be the most likely charge. It's possible there's some ambiguous level of consent here, or that Barb isn't as senile as believed, or that she stops cooperating, or isn't capable of testifying due to dementia.
I'm assuming at least for the moment, and admit it's speculation, that the prosecution's first offer is not going to be something Chris is willing to take. I'd revise that if it turns out their case is weaker than I think.
My underlying assumptions:
Barb did not consent or is legally incapable of consenting.
Barb gave some kind of coherent explanation or the physical evidence is sufficient.
Chris admitted to at least something while trying to excuse his actions because he is that dumb.
So my opinion is they're going to add rape, although they might plead out for just the incest.
Obviously if these assumptions are incorrect, the outcome could be different. For instance, if Chris for once in his life had the sense to clam up, and Barb is either a lot more mentally there, or a lot less mentally there to the point of being incapable of testifying, or actively tries to defend him.
So there's a lot of moving parts, but that's my basis for that opinion.
Unfortunately for us it's unlikely we get the full information on what's actually going on in the case until trial.
It's also in the defense's interest to stall in the hopes Barb dies or goes more senile, assuming she's not already too senile to testify.
If you think the tape with Bella that the entire case is based on will get admitted and nobody will have to go up to testify to its authenticity, that is just outlandish.
I don't think they get it in without better chain of custody on it. It's not complete and the taper is completely unreliable herself and not in the jurisdiction. I'm assuming they have a confession, though, just knowing Chris and his level of stupidity.
The fact they're holding him without bond is strongly suggestive they have more than "I saw it on the Internet."
I'm not anticipating it being a central part of the evidence, and even introducing it at all opens opportunities to discredit it somehow.
I would bet, though, that they played it to him and got him to re-admit anything necessary for their case. I think even a normal bunch of cops would realize there are serious evidentiary issues with it.3
They're fully convinced it's Bella who ruined poor innocent Chris' life.
He's so dumb he'd have admitted it to someone else if it hadn't been Bella. The only difference is he picked the only person around sick enough to let it continue just for the lulz.
