Lori Loughlinand husbandMossimo Giannulliwant to face trial in thecollege admissions scandalbecause they think it’s their best chance for redemption, a source close to them tells PEOPLE.

“Lori feels like so much damage has been done publicly that the only way for her to counter it is to fight this case in court,” the source tells PEOPLE. “She feels like once all the evidence is presented, that people will understand how things happened.”

Loughlin, 54, and Giannulli, 55, face charges of mail fraud and money laundering conspiracy. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison for each charge.

Attorneys for the couple were in court on Monday, entering formal pleas of not guilty of the charges against them. The couple previouslyturned down a plea deal— and they continue to insist that going to trial is in their best interest.

“She doesn’t want to spend time in jail,” the source says, “but she knows that any sort of plea or conviction at this point will include jail time. Her only chance of avoiding jail is to go to court and be found not guilty.”

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Lori Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli are photographed leaving Boston Massachussetts courthouse where they are appearing in front of a judge facing charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud, with an alleged nation

On March 12, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts announced that it had charged 50 people, includingFelicity Huffman, Loughlin and her husband, in the cheating scandal. Along with coaches, admissions counselors and fellow parents, they were accused of alleged crimes such as falsifying SAT scores and lying about the athletic skills of their children.

Singer has since admitted his role as the ringleader of the scam and has pleaded guilty to multiple charges.

Reps for Loughlin and Giannulli have not returned PEOPLE’s requests for comment.

From left: Olivia Jade Giannulli, Lori Loughlin and Isabella Rose Giannulli.Gabriel Olsen/Getty

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The source, who previously told PEOPLE the coupledidn’t intend to do anything illegal, maintains that they believe the evidence will eventually exonerate them.

The source adds: “At this point, if she pleads guilty, she feels like the mitigating evidence will never see the light of day.”

A trial date has not yet been set.

source: people.com