Perhaps Maher -- whose circumstances must have inflicted on him a great deal of duress (to say the least) -- is desperately trying to change his predicament to one of finite duration as opposed to the no doubt seemingly endless morass in which he exists. Or other scenarios someday may be shown to be the case here.
The history of American jurisprudence is replete with examples of defendants who pleaded or attempted to plead guilty to lesser offenses rather than be wrongfully convicted or even railroaded concerning more serious offenses. And Maher apparently cannot hope to be rescued by forensic DNA technology....
Although the world will little note nor long remember what we FReepers have to say about this case, it would appear that reserving judgment in the matter of Ted Maher at least would be fair, IMO/FWIW.
As one of my elderly Jewish friends used to say, "It couldn't hurt."
Prayers for Maher and his family in any event....