Under the tender “mercies” of no doubt lying federal agents and prosecutors threatening them. Because they did not steal these items— Ashley intentionally left them (no girl diary writer would forget them- this was a cry for help sort of like the secret messages sent from prison slave chinese laborers left inside products sent to the US- surreptiously crying for help. slavery.
They intimidated them to plea out and their crap attorneys agreed- because there is no proof they stole them, without the coerced plead out... like a forced confession and inadmissable.
Yes no doubt they threatened them with 20 years etc.
I agree the whole system is rotten isn’t it the way they can get these pleas