Legal News

Under Alford Doctrine, Former Yalie Pleads Guilty to Stealing Scholarship

By Dan Slater

When, last June, the folks in Yale’s admissions office realized that Akash Maharaj, who’d already been enrolled as an undergrad for two terms, forged his transcript and letter of recommendation, they kicked him out. Maharaj, 26, pleaded guilty to stealing more than $46,000 in scholarships and now faces a max penalty of 20 years in prison and $15,000 in fines.

We didn’t think the story, from the Yale Daily News, was typical LB fare, until we got to the “Alford Doctrine.” Apparently, Maharaj, though he plead guilty to stealing the scholarship money, is still pleading not guilty to the other charges being brought against him — forgery and criminal violation of a restraining order.

The plea, reports the Yale Daily News, was entered under the Alford Doctrine, which we’d never heard of. According to this Web site, it’s a plea in a criminal case in which the defendant does not admit guilt, but agrees that the state has enough evidence against him or her to get a conviction. Apparently, the Alford Doctrine permits the defendant to enter into a plea bargain with the state. If the judge accepts the Alford Plea, a guilty finding is made on the record.

Larceny is the most serious charge Maharaj faces, and the prosecutor Michael Dearington said the guilty plea makes it unlikely that the state will pursue the other charges. “You assume if he pleads guilty to larceny, that’s the end of it,” he said.

LBers, will you enlighten us? Do other states allow pleas under the Alford Doctrine?

Full post as published by Law Blog - WSJ.com on June 03, 2008 (boomark / email).