Phil Matier: SF District Attorney Gascon Questions Sheriff Mirkarimi's Guilty Plea
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF/AP) - San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon has said he has doubts about the sincerity of Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi's guilty plea to a charge of misdemeanor false imprisonment.
Gascon told the San Francisco Chronicle editorial board on Thursday that statements Mirkarimi made after he entered the plea this week lead him to question whether the sheriff really believes he is guilty.
Gascon said he plans to take up the issue with the judge at Mirkarimi's sentencing on Monday.
Mirkarimi was accused of bruising his wife's arm during an argument on New Year's Eve. Prosecutors agreed to drop more serious charges, including domestic violence battery, in exchange for his plea.
Mirkarimi's attorney, Lidia Stiglich, said her client is unconditionally accepting responsibility for the incident and wants to move forward.
So why then the public debate over Mirkarimi's sincerity? - Politics. Both Mirkarimi and Gascon are politicians, and are doing their best to spin the story in their favor.
Gascon, in particular, doesn't want to come across as the type of District Attorney who cuts deals behind closed doors.
Mirkarimi, for his part, wants to salvage his political career and reputation, which explains why he would be inclined to get "ahead of the story" and spin it in his favor.
Gascon believes Mirkarimi has been making comments "around town," essentially complaining that his hands were tied and he "had no choice" but to enter the guilty plea.
KCBS, CBS 5 and SF Chronicle Insider Phil Matier Reports:
(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
