Jesse Pinkman is one of the main characters in the hit TV show Breaking Bad. Throughout the five seasons of the show, Jesse goes from being a small-time drug dealer to a meth cook and distributor working alongside his former chemistry teacher, Walter White.
Jesse participates in many illegal activities, including cooking and selling meth, which raises the question – if Jesse Pinkman was a real person, would he have gone to prison for his crimes? In this article, we will analyze Jesse’s criminal acts and the evidence against him to determine whether he likely would have been convicted and sent to prison.
Jesse’s Criminal Acts
Over the course of Breaking Bad, Jesse Pinkman commits a wide range of crimes from drug possession and distribution to manslaughter. Here is an overview of some of Jesse’s most significant illegal activities:
Manufacturing and Distributing Meth
Jesse’s primary criminal act is cooking and selling methamphetamine with Walter White, which they produce in an RV and later in underground labs. Meth is an illegal Schedule II controlled substance, so manufacturing and distributing it carries significant penalties. Jesse cooks, sells, and uses meth throughout the show.
Manslaughter and Murder
While Jesse does not directly murder anyone until the final season, he is involved in several deaths. For example, Jesse’s girlfriend Jane chokes to death on her own vomit while high on heroin with Jesse present. He also helps dispose of bodies on Walt’s orders. In the final season, Jesse strangles Todd Alquist to death in revenge for killing a child.
Assault
Jesse is involved in several violent assaults, including beating up the drug dealer responsible for his girlfriend’s overdose death as well as attacking two of his associates who worked for Gus Fring. He pulls a gun on Walt toward the end of the show.
Drug Possession
In addition to meth, Jesse is shown using, possessing, and distributing other illegal drugs including heroin and cocaine at various points in the show. He would likely face drug possession charges.
Theft and Robbery
To get money for drugs, Jesse is involved in some theft and robbery. For example, he steals meth samples from the lab where he works and assists in a train robbery to obtain a large quantity of methylamine.
Money Laundering
Once Jesse starts earning big money from distributing meth, he has to launder the illegal cash through his aunt’s business and by purchasing luxury items. This constitutes money laundering.
Key Evidence Against Jesse
Prosecutors would have substantial evidence to convict Jesse if he were tried for his crimes including:
- Video Confession: Jesse makes a video confessing to cooking and selling meth, working with Heisenberg, and killing Gale Boetticher. This would undoubtedly be Exhibit A.
- Eyewitnesses to Crimes: Many people directly see or have knowledge of Jesse committing illegal acts including assault, theft, murder, and more. Their testimony could help confirm much of the prosecution’s case.
- Physical Evidence: The RV, underground meth labs, fingerprints, and other physical proof would link Jesse to the drug operation. For example, Jesse’s fingerprints are likely at several crime scenes.
- Financial Records: Records of Jesse’s lavish spending on houses, cars, and partying would help prove money laundering and distribution of meth proceeds.
- Jesse’s Testimony: If offered a plea deal, Jesse could potentially testify against associates like Walt, Gus, and Saul to substantiate the prosecution’s case.
With the volume of evidence against him, prosecutors would likely be able to make a strong case for convicting Jesse Pinkman on drug, weapons, theft, money laundering, and murder charges if he were a real person.
Factors That Could Have Helped Jesse’s Defense
Despite the considerable evidence, there are some factors that may have helped Jesse avoid prison time or receive a lighter sentence:
Cooperation with Law Enforcement
After Hank discovers Walt is Heisenberg, Jesse agrees to cooperate as an informant. He provides valuable information that helps lead to the arrest of his associates and dismantling of the meth operation. His cooperation could lead to a reduced sentence.
Coercion by Walt
A skilled defense attorney could argue that Walt manipulated and coerced Jesse into participating in crimes. As the older authority figure, Walt pressured an impressionable Jesse. This may elicit some jury sympathy.
No Prior Record
Since Jesse had no known criminal record prior to meeting Walt, a defense lawyer could argue he was corrupted by his teacher and unlikely to re-offend. First-time offenders sometimes receive probation rather than hard prison time.
Remorse and Desire for Rehabilitation
Throughout the show, Jesse displays remorse for the harm caused by his actions. He seeks to make amends through rehab and community service. His desire to rehabilitate himself may sway a judge to be more lenient.
Mental Health Factors
Jesse clearly suffers from poor mental health including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and drug addiction. A defense attorney could use this to argue for addiction treatment rather than imprisonment.
Likely Prison Sentence for Jesse Pinkman
Given the extent of crimes committed by Jesse over a two-year period, it is unlikely he would avoid prison time altogether despite any mitigating factors. However, by taking a plea deal and cooperating with law enforcement, Jesse could possibly reduce a potential life sentence down to 10-15 years in prison.
Based on comparable real-world cases, here is an estimate of prison time Jesse would plausibly receive if convicted:
- Manufacturing and selling at least 450 pounds of meth: 10-15 years
- Manslaughter conviction for Jane’s death: 3-5 years
- Accessory to murder charges for working with Walt: 2-3 years
- Drug possession with intent to distribute: 2 years
- Armed robbery and theft crimes: 2 years
By taking a plea deal, all sentences could run concurrently. So while Jesse may have been facing a potential life sentence based on the multitude and severity of crimes, serving 10-15 years in prison seems a reasonable outcome had his case gone to trial.
How Prison Time Might Have Impacted Jesse
Spending well over a decade in prison would profoundly affect Jesse Pinkman. Here are some likely ways prison would impact him:
- Jesse was a meth addict prior to incarceration. Being forced into sobriety could help Jesse overcome his substance abuse problems.
- Spending time behind bars often causes people to reflect on their choices and “rehabilitates” them to make better decisions when released.
- On the other hand, prisons can be dangerous places that harden people and expose them to worse influences. Jesse could emerge more damaged.
- Jesse would miss out on years of normal life experiences and relationships by being incarcerated in his 20s. This could stunt his emotional growth.
- Having a felony conviction would make life after prison difficult. Jesse may have trouble getting a legitimate job and housing.
- Jesse would lose credibility with the public and those close to him. Rebuilding trust would be an uphill battle.
While hopes for rehabilitating prisoners are idealistic, the reality is prison often breeds more criminality. Had Jesse avoided the death penalty, he likely would have emerged from prison a changed man – but not necessarily in positive ways.
Was Imprisoning Jesse the Right Outcome?
Assuming Jesse Pinkman received 10-15 years in prison for his Breaking Bad exploits, an argument can be made both for and against incarceration being the appropriate punishment:
Why Imprisoning Jesse Was the Right Call
- Jesse committed numerous serious felonies over a long period. The justice system dictates fair punishment.
- Letting Jesse avoid prison could incentivize others to view crime lightly.
- Imprisonment keeps dangerous criminals like Walt and Jesse away from law-abiding citizens.
- Justice was served for the victims of Jesse’s involvement in the meth trade like Andrea and Brock.
Reasons Why Imprisoning Jesse May Have Been Unjust
- Pablo Escobar went to prison. Jesse is small fries in the drug trade, where incarcerating him does little to curb crime.
- Jesse was manipulated by Walt and Gus – he is as much a victim as criminal mastermind.
- Incarceration often turns low-level offenders into career criminals, making recidivism likely.
- Drug addiction is increasingly treated as a health issue, not strictly a criminal justice matter warranting imprisonment.
- Restorative justice through rehabilitation programs and community service could achieve more desirable ends.
There are good-faith arguments on both sides of whether imprisoning Jesse Pinkman would have been fair and ethical. Reasonable people can disagree on whether Jesse deserved prison, probation, rehabilitation, or other consequences. The complexity of weighing individual justice with social interests means there is no obvious right answer.
Jesse’s Actual Fate in Breaking Bad
Of course, Jesse Pinkman is a fictional character who meets an ending that differs from spending over a decade in prison:
- After a tragic series of events, Jesse partners with Walt one last time to avenge Hank’s death by killing the Neo Nazis holding Jesse hostage.
- Following the bloody shootout, Jesse refuses to kill the wounded Walt, instead telling him to kill himself. Walt obliges and dies from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
- Now a physically and emotionally broken man, Jesse steals Todd’s car and drives recklessly through the gates escaping his captors. The series ends with him sobbing in anguish before the screen fades to black.
- While Jesse avoids prison, he remains chained in many ways. The ambiguity leaves it up to the viewer’s interpretation whether Jesse finds any redemption or inner peace.
Though fictional, Jesse Pinkman’s journey provokes vital questions about morality, psychopathy, drug abuse, and the duty of society to protect and rehabilitate criminals. While audiences may feel empathy for Jesse, would justice truly be served if he avoided legal consequences in reality? The ethical complexities defy easy solutions.
Conclusion
Based on an analysis of the crimes depicted in Breaking Bad, it is reasonable to conclude Jesse Pinkman likely would have been convicted and served 10-15 years in prison for his central role alongside Walter White in a prolific meth drug trafficking operation. Though compelling mitigating factors may have led to a reduced sentence, the volume of physical evidence and eyewitness testimony weighs strongly in favor of conviction on multiple felonies. While Jesse was arguably a victim of manipulation from Walt and others, his voluntary decisions to cook, sell, and use meth for two years makes it improbable he would avoid incarceration in reality. Imprisoning Jesse could serve justice and protect society, but it may fall short of genuine restoration. His fictional journey provokes difficult questions about crime and punishment with no perfect answers. Nonetheless, the law leaves little room for empathy or nuance in many cases. For all his redemptive qualities, Jesse Pinkman faced overwhelming odds of serving substantial prison time had he been a real criminal brought to trial.