Florida Murder Defendant Demands Philly Cheesesteak in Bizarre Plea Offer
A Florida murder defendant offered to plead guilty for a life sentence in exchange for a Philly cheesesteak and a Pepsi, but the judge swiftly rejected the bizarre deal.
A 74-year-old Florida man on trial for murder and dismemberment made an unusual plea deal offer to the judge, demanding a Philly cheesesteak sandwich, french fries, and a Pepsi in exchange for a guilty plea and a life sentence. The bizarre exchange took place on Monday during jury selection in the trial of Robert Kessler, who is accused of murdering Stephanie Crone-Overholts in 2021.
As Judge Nick Nazaretian explained to Kessler that he could plead guilty and accept a life sentence to conclude the legal proceedings, the defendant promptly stated his terms. "I'll do it for a Philly cheesesteak, an order of french fries, and a Pepsi," Kessler said. When the judge asked for clarification, Kessler even specified his exact preferences for the sandwich, requesting onions and mayonnaise.
Judge Nazaretian, visibly surprised, rejected the proposition immediately. "I've been in this profession for almost 40 years, and I've never heard a request like that," the judge responded, noting that providing food as an incentive to plead guilty would be legally flawed in a thousand ways. Kessler argued that the deal would save taxpayers trial expenses, but the court maintained that such a trade-off is impossible.
Following the rejection, Kessler withdrew his offer to plead guilty and elected to proceed with the jury selection. The underlying case involves serious charges, as Kessler is accused of first-degree murder and abuse of a dead body after portions of the victim's remains were discovered in November 2021 in Tampa's McKay Bay.
