It is not uncommon for defendants who believe that there is no credible evidence against them to request that their charges be dismissed. Former Texas Governor Rick Perry has already had one felony charge dismissed, and he is currently requesting that the other be dismissed as well. The possible dismissal is currently pending with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
In 2014, Perry was indicted by a grand jury on two federal charges — coercing a public servant and abusing power. The charges ultimately stemmed from a county district attorney who, after pleading guilty on drunk driving charges, did not resign. Perry vetoed over $7 million of public integrity funding when the resignation he had requested did not come. His veto of the funding was ultimately followed by the series of criminal allegations.
The indictments have been widely criticized by people on both sides of the political spectrum, and a senior aide to President Obama even weighed in on the matter. With his charge for coercing a public servant already dismissed, Perry is focusing on the allegations that he abused his official capacity. Specifically, at least four issues have been highlighted for review by the appeals court, including nine separate constitutional challenges.
With the potential to completely alter the course of a person’s future, facing an unjust felony charge can be devastating in more ways than one. Hefty fines may only be the beginning if a conviction is secured, and time spent behind bars is often lengthy. Those who believe that they have been wrongly accused of committing a crime may choose to follow in the former Texas Governor’s footsteps, and appeal for a dismissal of the charges. However, defendants must be able to demonstrate exactly how the charges are unjust, which may range from an illegal traffic stop to unreliable eyewitness accounts and/or claims of prosecutorial misconduct.
Source: breitbart.com, “Perry Asks Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to Dismiss Final Charge“, Lana Shadwick, Aug. 20, 2015
