Do you want to look up the definition of the word “decree” and then edit your post?
Because what they handed down was a choice. The literal antithesis of a decree. The only misconduct was offering the man a choice. Not Sophie’s damn choice, either.
Just be an honest human being for one moment: You are going to jail and getting a felony record and losing a lot of money or you can eat a dimebag of whatever passes for weed in that shitstate.
You’d chose jail? Hell is full of people who chose to be martyrs.
This is the world. Jesus, are you a Bernie or Bust person as well?