Amanda Billyrock took a plea to “Disobeying an officer” (the other charges were dropped) in Laconia district court earlier this week and many have been wondering what motivated her. Â Turns out, she was under duress as she explains in this Facebook post:
Why I plead guilty to “disobeying”:  I don’t have time to make a video right now, so a post will have to do.  Monday morning, I was ready for a trial. We walked into the Laconia court house, and my attorney Seth Hipple asked to speak to me. He informed me that prosecutor Jim Sawyer had contacted him that morning and said he believed I had given false information on the bail paperwork I filled out in jail and that he intended to charge me with perjury.
What would this have meant? Regardless of the outcome of Monday’s trial, it would have meant ANOTHER trial and – because my attorney was at the jail when I was doing paperwork – I would have to hire ANOTHER lawyer. Jim Sawyer was willing to stop the additional assault if I would pay $100 and admit to committing the horrendous crime of not obeying orders shouted by a jackboot in the street.
So I had a choice – more hours of my life to the state and fistfuls of money to another lawyer, or leaving a situation that had just taken a very bad turn.
Seth did not attempt to influence me either way. He has been excellent like that from the beginning. He presented the options, and after careful consideration, I made the choice.
My deepest thanks again to those who showed me emotional and financial support. You are aces in my book, and I am proud and humbled to know you.
It’s over now.
