Why do people even bother to plead "not guilty " ??

.....
Suspect accused of stealing truck with children inside pleads not guilty

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2025/12/23/suspect-accused-stealing-truck-with-children-inside-pleads-not-guilty/

I don't understand how this crap works either.  Because I'm sure his f*ckn lawyer and himself knows he did it.

Maybe they do that because if you plead guilty, the book will be thrown at you.

But if you plead not guilty they still will throw the book at you, only this time it will be a soft cover edition instead of the hardcover.

Let me just say that I am a pretty good dad of several great kids. If that was my kids in the car....I better just shut my mouth now.

Not guilty buys some extra time to negotiate a plea deal.

Not guilty buys some extra time to negotiate a plea deal.

It also gives the defense time to do their own investigating into the conduct of the cops, the legality of any searches and seizures  , and to look for mitigating circumstances that might excuse the criminal acts of the accused.

In the US, there's the truth, and there's the law.  The truth might be you're guilty as sin, but the law still has to prove you're guilty in a court of law either before a jury of 12 or a judge (bench trial).  Short of a written confession, that's not often a slam dunk.  People caught red-handed on clear video have gotten off due to things like the video being inadmissible, it might show signs of tampering, etc.

in a world getting flooded by AI, the line between truth and pure fiction is beginning to fade away.

Let me just say that I am a pretty good dad of several great kids. If that was my kids in the car....I better just shut my mouth now.

Same here.  This is my truth to my kids, my grandkids, and now my great grandson:

Papa will always protect you.  Always.  Your lives over mine.

Have you never seen Shawshank Redemption? 

"Everyone is innocent here, hey Collins, what you do?"

Collins: "didn't do it"