If a prosecutor was threatening me with 20 years for looking at internet pictures, but offered me a plea deal of 5 years and an admission that I did something wrong, I'd tell him to go climb a tree. If my lawyer told me to take the deal, I'd tell her to climb a tree as well. I'm not sure why this doesn't seem believable to you.

A trial could end in being found not guilty. A 20 year sentence does not necessarily mean 20 years in prison. And admitting guilt means something. I would never admit guilt unless I was actually guilty of doing something wrong, and someone was hurt because of my actions. I hope I am never in this uncomfortable position, but my real world actions would be exactly what I have just said.

The GC search function doesn't work, and I don't know any other way to find the year-old news story. But it was posted here, and it stuck with me because I was suprised someone so young would stick to his principals and not take the plea deal like so many others do. I had a lot of respect for him.