Chapter 19 - Rachel’s Plea
Rachel pleaded guilty to a child endangering offense arising from intentionally shoving Emma and accepted responsibility for causing the fracture, while the state dismissed a lesser overlapping count.
She did not admit she intended the break.
Because evidence did not prove that.
At sentencing, I spoke.
“My daughter was nine. She said no to giving away something that belonged to her. Rachel answered by using adult strength against a child standing beside steps. What happened afterward made the injury worse emotionally because my family tried to make Emma responsible for Rachel’s choices.”
Rachel cried.
I continued.
“I do not want Rachel’s life destroyed. I want the court to understand Emma’s safety matters more than our family’s desire to pretend nothing happened.”
Rachel had no prior criminal record.
She had employment.
She had complied with no contact.
She had begun counseling.
The judge imposed a custodial sentence measured in months rather than years, followed by community control, mandatory counseling, and continued no contact with Emma unless a future court and Emma’s parents determined otherwise.
Some people online thought too light.
Others too harsh.
May you like
I stopped reading comments.
The law was not supposed to satisfy strangers.
