A trial

[sheenianni]

I'm writing a story where Neal goes to trial. While there won't be much of the legal process, I need to know some very basics to keep it believable. So

Comments

[ladyrose42]

From the pilot, it appears it took a year for Neal's trial and conviction. His sentence was for 4 years. But when talking to Peter, he says Kate got a guy who was locked up for half a decade (5 years).

[amy1705fl]

they probably kept Neal in jail awaiting trial. so the year he was waiting for trial plus the 4 year sentence would be 5 years or half a decade.

[rabidchild]

If he was in jail awaiting trial, i would think they'd have given him credit, or "time served" for that year (or whatever) against the four years.

[elrhiarhodan]

I don't think that Neal was held for a full year before trial - that would violate his right to a speedy trial. Generally, the gov't has to be ready to present its case in three months.

I think the "half a decade comment" came from the fact that in the original pilot script, Neal was supposed to have run with four months left on a five year sentence, and they never changed the line (it just sounded too good).

[ladyrose42]

Yea, the canon timeline screws itself. And, yes the line does sounds good! Just a guess, but I doubt Neal was given the option of bail. Presumed flight risk and all that. Since he was a "White Collar" criminal and definitely non-violent; always wondered why he was in SuperMax if not for potential for escape. Of course, I want to know how Peter knew Neal didn't like guns(to the extreme). Going off topic now. Bye

[elrhiarhodan]

Canon timeline is awful - I was watching In the Red last night, and in the scene where Sara gives Neal the voice stress analyzer test, she asks him in he stole a Raphael in April 2005. I'm not terribly good with math, by for a series that was originally scripted in 2007, filmed in 2008, has significant references to existing in 2009 and 2010 - by April 2005, Neal should have been in jail awaiting trial or already sentenced!

[swanpride]

Wait...she especially said April 2005? I didn't catch that! I have to check it and add it to my timeline (it certainly fits my "2009 is the pilot set" timeline).