Appreciate the advice. Although obviously you don't know my case and aren't my lawyer, why do you suggest I plead not guilty? If they have a confession and an evidence bag, isn't the case set in stone?
You are most welcome.
Where on Earth have you been, mate?
I am sure you have heard this, but I'll repeat it again to jog your memory.
In our system of jurisprudence a person is INNOCENT until proven guilty.
A person charged with a crime need not do anything to prove his/her innocence.
It is the state (as in government) that has the burden of proving the defendant did what the state is accusing the defendant of doing.
Just because a person may have allegedly confessed, there are several ways a person's alleged confession can be tossed.
All persons charged with any crime have the right to plead not guilty, in fact, such a person can stand mute before the court when asked to enter a plea.
If the defendant stands mute, the court is required to enter a plea of NOT guilty on her/his behalf.
I am surprised that any student attending any college or university doesn't know this.
Many of our progenitors were illiterate.
Most of them knew their rights and responsibilities.
You haven't been charged.
Nothing the police possess is evidence at this point.
If you are charged, a trial commences, the state must be allowed to enter all such "stuff" during trial as evidence.
There are rules and a well defined protocol as to how that is done, and the judge oversees the process.
Your attorney is there to see that your rights are not trampled.
The judge has many duties, one of which is to determine if "stuff" becomes evidence.
If you wish to plead guilty, you will be allowed to do so.
You also have the ability to wave your rights and plead not guilty.
That can only be done after the judge admonishes you about your rights, and advises you that you aren't required to do so, that you do have rights.
A plea isn't appealable.
A conviction grants you the right to appeal the conviction.
Good luck.
The dean is the person overseeing my dorm and the one who was supposed to inform me of all that was happening + guide me through the process. He took staunchly took the stance (directly before I was interrogated) that because my university hates lies even more than substance abuse, I should definitely say the truth. (Yes—why would I trust him?
A better question is why trust anyone?
The position one holds in life should never be used to determine if you trust the person.
The WORST any university can do to a student ADMINISTRATIVELY is expel the student.
On the other hand, a criminal matter, which very often begins with a police investigation, carries the far greater impact of incarceration in prison (along with the extinction of several rights).