Criminal Law-Pleas
At any point during this process the defendant may plead guilty to the charge leveled against him or her. Likewise, at any stage during the process, the defendant or his or her attorney may conduct negotiations with the prosecutor to determine whether a plea to some lesser charge may be agreeable to the government. If such an agreement is reached, the plea agreement is brought to the attention of the court and the prosecution is concluded. The only thing left to be done is the imposition of whatever sentence has either been agreed to and accepted by the court or is otherwise established by the court. The judge has final control over what sentence is imposed regardless of what agreement the lawyers may have reached.
The judge has final control over what sentence is imposed.
