Ohio Supreme Court justice, victim advocates fight against 'baseless' plea deals

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – An Ohio Supreme Court justice and victim advocates are fighting to put an end to plea deals that are not based on facts, claiming the practice is common in sexual assault cases. 

Justice Michael Donnelly, who has served on the state Supreme Court since 2019, has been advocating against what he calls “factually baseless pleas” for eight years. These instances take place when a defendant pleads guilty to a lesser crime that does not match up with the original charge.