A Georgia law means defendants who reached plea deals with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis in the Georgia election case against former President Donald Trump will likely be “completely exonerated” after the terms of their sentencing are complete.
Georgia’s First Offender Act allows some guilty defendants, who were not previously convicted of a felony, to have the criminal charge against them removed from their criminal record after serving the terms of the sentence issued against them. At least two of the lawyers who entered into a plea agreement with Willis appear likely to receive first-offender status.
The terms of attorney Sidney Powell’s plea deal, originally obtained by lawyer Robert Gouveia, proves the court has granted her first-offender status.
On the first page of the document, it confirms Powell “is sentenced under First Offender.” The document later reveals this status means that”[u]pon fulfillment of the terms of this sentence,” Powell “shall stand discharged of said offense without court adjudication of guilt and shall be completely exonerated of guilt of said offense charged.”
Kenneth Chesebro, the attorney who was set to go to trial alongside Powell before reaching a plea agreement with Willis (pictured above), also indicated he is seeking first time offender status when entering his guilty plea, though it is unclear if the court has agreed to the arrangement.
Bail bondsman Scott Hall, who was the first defendant to accept a plea agreement in September, was reported by The Washington Post to be considered a first time offender. Jenna Ellis, the attorney who most recently pleaded guilty after entering into an agreement with Willis, also seems likely to receive the first-time offender status due to her lack of previous criminal history.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Gouveia said the “plea deals are not even considered judgements of guilt under Georgia law,” and suggested Willis’ recent victories ring hollow.
The four defendants who accepted plea deals had the charges against them significantly reduced as a result, with some defendants previously facing years in prison if found guilty at trial.
Though specific punishments vary, all of the defendants who reached a plea agreement wrote apology letters to Georgia and agreed to probation, a fine, restitution, or both, while some also received community service. Those with plea agreements will also be compelled to truthfully testify at future trials.
Steve Sadow, the attorney representing Trump in the Georgia case, said he expects testimony from Powell and Ellis to help his client at trial. Sadow stated that Ellis’ admission of guilt “doesn’t even mention President Trump,” and separately, that Powell’s testimony “will be favorable” to Trump, so long as she testifies truthfully.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Georgia Star News and a reporter for The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Fani Willis” by Fani Willis.
