Pro-life activist offered probation

HOUSTON -- A pro-life activist's plan to reject a plea deal offering probation for charges related to making undercover Planned Parenthood videos likely means his goal is to use a trial as a public platform to criticize the not-for-profit, legal experts said.

David Daleiden surrendered to authorities, posted $3,000 bond and made two court appearances Thursday on the felony and misdemeanor charges he faces before prosecutors offered him pretrial diversion, a form of probation that would keep him out of prison and have the charges dismissed.

But Terry Yates, one of Daleiden's attorneys, said Daleiden isn't interested in accepting the plea offer and is prepared to head to trial if he can't quash the indictment.

"The only thing we're going to accept right now is an apology," he said.

The pretrial diversion, also offered to Daleiden's co-defendant and fellow activist Sandra Merritt, is a common offer for first-time nonviolent offenders, Harris County District Attorney's Office spokesman Jeff McShan said. But he also said prosecutors are ready to proceed to trial, and "our case is strong."