Chapter 13 - The Criminal Case Was Not the Same as the Custody Case
Michael faced charges arising from:
the physical assault,
the resulting injury,
and:
failure to obtain timely medical care
under applicable state law.
I learned quickly that legal language is:
specific.
Not every terrible act has the dramatic charge family members imagine.
Prosecutors assessed:
intent,
degree of injury,
evidence,
prior history,
Michael’s admissions,
state statutes.
The case eventually resolved through:
a negotiated plea
that included:
a felony-level or serious misdemeanor offense? Better not over-specify exact statute.
a serious assault-related offense,
a child-endangerment component,
probation,
mandatory intervention programming,
restrictions on contact,
and other court conditions.
No decades in prison.
Some relatives hated:
that.
My sister said:
“He almost killed her.”
The doctors corrected us.
Emily was seriously injured.
But there was no evidence Michael intended:
lethal harm.
Accuracy mattered.
Family court operated separately.
At first Michael’s contact with Emily was:
none.
Then, many months later:
therapeutically supervised
only after Emily’s therapist agreed she wanted to consider it.
Emily was not forced to:
forgive.
Not forced to:
reconcile.
Not asked to protect:
his feelings.
May you like
That was new.
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