It seems as though we're not going to find out Abby Lee Miller's criminal fate just yet. Or the fate of Lifetime's hit Reality TV show, "Dance Moms". For the past year and a half, we have all been waiting patiently for the day of the dance coach's sentencing, but it seems as though the U.S. government needs just a little bit more time to set up their case against her. They've set her new court date to March 8th, 2017. This actually works out in her favor as it gives her, and her defense team, some extra time to polish up their defense story.
What is Abby Lee Miller's defense?
We have heard many stories from Abby and her legal team. They've said that she was simply naive as to how to run a business and deal with the money from it. They've told us that she never did any of the things she's been accused of in the first place. But now, they are apparently saying that Abby did know what she was doing and that it was wrong but didn't know the harms that she was causing by hiding her income.
They're also going to use the excuse that she's a first time offender and should be given a lighter sentence of community service or just simply probation. That probably won't get her completely out of jail, but it could win her a shorter sentence.
Just how long could Abby be sentenced to prison?
The prosecutors want Abby Lee to spend anywhere from 6 to 10 years in prison, but her defense attorneys are pushing for her to have a possible sentence of no more than 2 and a half years. But what they're really pushing for, is that she doesn't serve any time in prison and instead, does community service or is put on probation along with a fine.
Considering Abby Lee Miller has owned her dance studio since she was 14 years old - she is now 50 years old - it is unlikely that they'll buy into their story of her not knowing how to handle a business. Since she's owned her dance studio, Abby Lee Dance Company - or more commonly known as ALDC, for 36 years now, it'd be hard for her to prove that she does not know how to handle money within a business and that she didn't know she had to claim taxes on her income that she received through her business.
So it is seeming like she will indeed end up having to spend some time in prison.
We still don't know how this will impact "Dance Moms". Considering they're already filming Season 7B and already have plans in store to film Season 8, it seems as though they have a backup plan in case Miller becomes unavailable to them.
