Chapter 15 - The Assault Plea
Brian did not go to trial.
Video ended that fantasy.
He pleaded to assault causing bodily injury and harassment-related conduct under negotiated agreement, with one lesser count dismissed.
Sentencing considered:
My age.
Weather.
Duration.
Prior clean record.
Video.
Lack of serious permanent injury.
His employment.
No prior violence convictions.
He received a short county jail term, probation, anger-management requirements, no-contact order, and restitution for medical expenses not covered by insurance.
People online thought sentence too light.
Others thought family dispute should never have been criminal.
I stopped reading comments.
The judge asked if I wanted speak.
I did.
Not long.
“Brian is my son. I do not want him destroyed. I want the court to understand he had multiple chances to stop. The water was not the worst thing. The worst thing was that he believed humiliating me was acceptable because he thought I had become financially and physically disposable.”
Brian stared down.
I continued.
“I worked hard so my son could have a life with choices. I never intended that to mean he would believe my life existed to finance his.”
That was it.
No request for maximum.
Judge sentenced.
After hearing, Brian approached through attorneys? No direct due no-contact. He looked at me once.
I looked back.
May you like
Nothing was repaired.
Nothing needed to be that day.
