Andy Thompson

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Brendan Dassey, who is serving a life sentence with parole eligibility in 2048 for his role in Teresa Halbach’s murder, could be facing far less prison time if he had accepted a plea deal instead of going to trial.

The terms and conditions of the plea offer that was extended by prosecutors in 2007 aren’t crystal clear, but former prosecutor Ken Kratz, in an appearance on "Dr. Drew" last week, said Dassey “was provided with an opportunity to serve as little as 15 years in prison” in connection with the 2005 killing of the 25-year-old Halbach.

Kratz said Dassey was given the option of testifying against his uncle, Steven Avery, for a lesser sentence due to Dassey’s “more limited involvement” in Halbach’s death. The former prosecutor claimed that Dassey accepted the deal, but family members urged him to reject the offer because it would have “hurt” Avery’s case.

The plea deal never materialized prior to Dassey’s trial. In 2007, juries convicted both Avery and Dassey of first-degree intentional homicide. While Dassey will have a chance at parole starting in 2048, Avery is sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

Kratz’s account of the plea deal for Dassey was questioned by his trial attorney, Ray Edelstein of Oshkosh.

Edelstein said Monday that Kratz has no basis to determine what went into the decision-making process for the defense.

“Was there a plea proposal? Yes, there was,” Edelstein said. “But that was ultimately the client’s decision. Obviously, there was no plea agreement.”

Edelstein added that he’s not sure that the 15-year term mentioned by Kratz is “quite accurate.”

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Plea discussions also were undertaken with Dassey earlier in the case, when he was represented by Len Kachinsky. The Appleton attorney was eventually removed from the case by the trial judge because of a 2006 incident in which Kachinsky wasn’t present while Dassey was interviewed by detectives.

Kachinsky said in the aftermath of Kratz’s appearance on "Dr. Drew” that he held “informal discussions” about a potential plea deal. It would have sent Dassey to prison for a maximum of 20 years, as opposed to the life term he eventually received.

Dassey’s relatives played a role in the progression of plea talks, according to Kachinsky. “The family pressure was pretty continuous,” he said.

Kachsinky noted that if the 15-year plea deal had been accepted, Dassey would be "close to getting out" of prison.

While plea deals fell through for Dassey, who was 16 at the time of Halbach’s murder, he is still seeking his freedom. A ruling by Federal Magistrate William E. Duffin of Milwaukee on Dassey’s appeal could come at any time.

Andy Thompson: 920-996-7270, or awthompson@postcrescent.com; on Twitter @Thompson_AW