What's wrong with defending "alleged" criminals? Last I checked, citizens are presumed innocent until proven guilty, unlike in say Saudi Arabia, etc.
Lack of a journalism education is no disqualifier in my book. Most of the MSM have degrees from journalism schools. Give me someone who is honest and can write a coherent sentence and, POOF, you have a qualified journalist.
It's not what he does, but how he does it. Visit his website.