Mayor won't resign despite pleading guilty to indecency

Well, well, well. See that? It's essentially the same law as the Mann case, recently decided by the Georgia Supreme Court.

How is it different? Well, this situation is a little different because the Youth Center is within 1000 feet of City Hall, where the Mayor would need to go to attend city council meetings. Although Mayor Donato pleaded guilty to exposing himself to two girls and improperly touching one of them, he says he was not guilty of the crime. Gee, that sounds a lot like Senator "Bathroom Stall" Craig who at first pleaded guilty then decided he wasn't guilty when he realized that if he sat tight and waited for the storm to blow over, no one would shriek for his resignation. This is the same Senator who consistently voted that it wouldn't be a hate crime if someone were attacked due to their sexual orientation.

So then, what are the citizens of Poteet, TX to do? Well, he isn't resigning because he really doesn't have to, since he took deferred adjudication, which means he technically isn't convicted right now of any crime. If he isn't convicted, then doesn't that mean he is not a sex offender? Well, he is on probation and the probation officers took the time to measure, with a measuring tape, to see if the location was within 1000 feet. Funny how the town would bend over backwards to make sure the mayor could go to work, but when an everyday guy had a similar plea, he seems to get railroaded out of town.

Don't get me wrong, I don't condone sex crimes against anyone, but it seems to be la mode these days to plea (usually with the counsel of one's attorney) which, in every case it must be shown that the plea was given freely and willingly, then they turn around and say "I really wasn't guilty." It's cool, whatever helps you get through the night. It just bugs me because you accept the plea and then dance around it for social reasons. That just makes defense attorneys look bad since we are the ones getting you this deal and then it is kind of dissed by claiming that - naw, I really didn't do it. It's hard to fight a defense to the end and we all understand that at some point, one has to look at the reality of the situation - fight for your name and go bankrupt or accept a plea and get on with your life. Sometimes it is better to take the plea, but at least be a little more honest about why you took it, if you're going to comment on it publicly.