I went to court today. I was told to come back Thursday for jury selection. I got a call a couple hours later from my lawyer to ask if I'd accept misdemeanor reckless conduct, time served. Case closed.
I told her let me think about it and what's the odds for a complete dismissal. She said at this point they're not offering that, but if I still want to take the risk to let her know by Thursday.
I know it's a good "deal".
Advice?... I need the dismissal so I can get all the stories and mugshots removed from the internet
You don't need the dismissal, with no prior violent crime history and this being your first misdemeanor you can likely get the conviction expunged from your record either after your probationary period or after a state approved period of time. However, some violent misdemeanors are wobblers in the sense that they are treated as quasi-felonies and are more difficult to expunge depending on the state.
This is typically 5 years depending on the state you are in. A misdemeanor conviction, depending on the nature and severity, can inhibit your employment prospects. Misdemeanors in many states are not asked to be disclosed on a job application. A felony in the vast majority of cases will prevent you from even getting looked at. A misdemeanor is an exponentially more favorable outcome for future career prospects.
A felony follows you for life. There is no escaping it. I know pride is a factor here, and you truly believe you are 100% innocent. You can continue to fight this, however the deal on the table will be off. The state will burn through more resources, and the judge will far less forgiving if a guilty verdict is handed down.
You may have a solid defense, however trials consist of a lot of fukkery and innocent people are convicted in this country all the time. You are at the mercy of a jury of your fellow citizens not without their biases, and subsequently the compassion of a judge who is likely tired of this being dragged out.
You mentioned the initial worst case scenario was 5 felonies and a maximum of 40 years in prison. Your attorney got it down to a misdemeanor with time served. Right now, if you walk away, you are guaranteed your freedom.
If you choose to go back into this fire, you cannot retreat. You may not be pleased with the results.