PDX,

First off, anything you say about civil law HAS NO bearing on my particular case, as it is purely a criminal case. You can cite all the civil case law you want, it is irrelevant. You see, the Constitution (and especially the 5th Amendment) is interpreted more liberally for civil matters than it is for criminal matters, since in the majority of the time the government itself is NOT a party to civil matters but is ALWAYS a party to criminal matters.

Read up on the 5th Amendment as it regards to criminal proceedings before you start calling me a fool. Good old Abe once said: "It is better to be thought a fool in silence than to open one's mouth and remove any doubt."

Secondly, I have an (excellent) attorney and he has a model (and innocent) client. I research the law as it regards to me, and come to him to confirm my understanding and clear up any questions I have.

The very first time he talked to the DA he put this on the table: "It's either a nolle pros OR it is a trial." Her deals went from "11.5 to 23 months" (in Novemeber) to "probation and anger management counselling" (in December) to "plead to Disorderly Conduct with no penalty or costs imposed" (on Friday) to "hold a non-jury trial for Disorderly Conduct" (again on Friday). I turned them all down and told them I was ready for the last one. Heck, I even dared the DA to try me on Simple Assault by demanding a jury trial - she blinked and I knew I won by asking for the Summary Trial (no right to a jury there for me).

The DA never discussed the nolle pros with us prior to requesting that entry of the trial judge. She just kept pushing to see if he was serious, and we were. He agreed, and I got what I wanted - a non-guilty judgement with prejudice attached.

Third, I did ask that exact question of my attorney after court on Monday. And we discussed my plans to file a Private Criminal Complaint. We also discussed ridiculous hypothetcals related to any criminal culpability I had remaining from this incident.

Fourth, I have had seven months to think about what to do when this day came (and I knew it would).

Finally, I wasn't coming here to flaunt any type of mad legal skillz I have. I wanted to keep the people (like hetfield for instance) that knew about my situation informed that things were finally turning my way.

The truth will set you free - those words had no greater meaning for me than on Monday in Courtroom D of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas.