Page "Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh" Paragraph 32

Osho's imprisonment and transfer across the country became a public spectacle — he was displayed in chains, held first in North Carolina, then Oklahoma and finally in Portland.

Officials took the full ten days legally available to transfer him from North Carolina to Portland for arraignment.

After initially pleading " not guilty " to all charges and being released on bail Osho, on the advice of his lawyers, entered an " Alford plea "— a type of guilty plea through which a suspect does not admit guilt, but does concede there is enough evidence to convict him — to one count of having a concealed intent to remain permanently in the U. S. at the time of his original visa application in 1981 and one count of having conspired to have sannyasins enter into sham marriages to acquire U. S. residency.

Under the deal his lawyers made with the U. S. Attorney's office he was given a 10-year suspended sentence, five years ' probation and a $ 400, 000 penalty in fines and prosecution costs and agreed to leave the United States, not returning for at least five years without the permission of the United States Attorney General.