Legal Question in Criminal Law in Virginia

Re: possible two life terms!

Why your son would've pled guilty under these circumstances where apparently there may have been entrapment or other defenses available, I find puzzling, particularly, if no counts were dropped as part of the plea negotiation. What did he gain from this deal(by pleading to three felony counts)? Apparently, not much of anything.

Far better (in my opinion) in these circumstances for the defendant to go to trial where there are possible defenses available such as entrapment or coercion/duress and let all the relevant facts come out (and into play with regard to any possible police misconduct) during the course of the trial and put the Commonwealth to its test of the evidence.