[nitrogen]

Being labeled as a felon, with the implications thereof regarding voting, employment, serving on a jury, etc. is hardly an option worth considering.

[unreal37]

So the two options were: 1) Plead not guilty, case drags on for years, costs $millions to defend, get convicted, serve 2-3 years in jail, unable to fight for something you believe in during that time

2) Plead guilty, case is over quickly, not expensive to defend, get convicted, serve 2-3 months in jail, get on with fighting for something you believe in

I would say option #2 is "worth considering".

[graysnorf]

He was facing potentially 35 years in jail, not 2-3 years.

[Evbn]

Different people have different standards. Maybe Aarons choice helped protect people who follow in his footsteps.

[SilasX]

I'm pretty sure employment wouldn't be an issue for him.

Anyway, if you want to protest the law, you can let yourself be found guilty at trial, then challenge the law on appeal.