Nobody forgot that Joe is playing with house money. But others think that he's dumb as shit for getting back in the life after beating the flowers murder on appeal. He was lucky as shit! He did time, why go back? He beat the system once, he may not be so lucky the next time. But then again, maybe he realized that he should be in jail anyway and just made money for his family while he has the time so that they can be set when he goes back in since that is what he knows how to do best.But if I were his kids/wife, I'd rather have him. Like you said, he is no spring chicken. This could effectively be a life sentence for him if convicted. And most likely there will be a conviction.