Chapter 15 - Cedric’s plea Cedric pleaded guilty to one felony count involving unauthorized use of an electronic signature in a financial transaction.
The state dismissed a broader theft-by-deception count after concluding evidence on my general HELOC-renewal authorization complicated the theory.
He had authorization to handle routine banking.
He exceeded it dramatically.
The plea required admitting:
I did not authorize the increased credit limit.
I did not authorize the $310,000 draw.
He used my credentials.
He knew I had not expressly approved the amount.
There.
No “she forgot.”
No “family money.”
At sentencing months later, the court would consider:
No prior criminal record.
Cooperation.
Restitution.
Impact on family.
Related identity impersonation conduct.
The deferred minor message case folded into sentencing/plea terms rather than separate conviction.
Efficient.
Then divorce.
I filed formally.
Cedric did not contest the divorce itself.
Custody and money remained.
Temporary parenting expanded:
One overnight every other weekend after positive evaluations.
Ottilie was six and a half.
She wanted to stay at Daddy’s apartment.
I hated it.
Dr. Monroe said:
“Your fear is information. It is not automatically a veto.”
I could have thrown a chair.
Instead, I took the conflict-management course seriously.
Cedric installed no Barton access.
No unsupervised third-party discipline.
No removing possessions between homes without Ottilie’s knowledge.
We built rules.
At first, everything felt absurdly detailed.
Then it became ordinary.
The first overnight:
Ottilie returned carrying her stuffed kitten.
“Did Daddy take anything?”
“No.”
“Did you cry?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“He hugged me.”
I went into the bathroom and cried where she could not see.
Not because I wanted Cedric to fail.
Because his success meant my anger had nowhere simple to go.
Then HELOC settlement.
I agreed.
Terms:
Heartland released its lien against the marital home in full.
$220,000 from Prescott Commercial Ventures distributions.
$50,000 from Cedric’s separate investment account.
Bank absorbed/insured remaining loss and waived disputed interest under settlement.
Barton’s notary bond/insurer contributed separately to bank recovery.
No payment from me.
I waived additional civil claims against Heartland beyond agreed fees and costs.
Did Heartland admit fraud?
It admitted process failures, not intentional wrongdoing.
Barton’s notary commission was revoked.
Good.
House title cleared.
Then marital home division.
We could sell.
Or one buy the other out.
Cedric wanted to keep it initially.
I did too.
For Ottilie.
Then Naomi asked:
“Does she need this exact house?”
No.
The house had become litigation collateral.
Maybe nobody needed it.
We postponed final choice until custody trial.
Then Cedric’s sentencing.
He received:
A short jail term served partly through local custody? Given felony and restitution. Let's say several months county incarceration followed by community control, suspended additional time contingent compliance.
He would be away from Ottilie.
Again.
I hated him for creating that.
He told her age-appropriate:
“I broke a law with money and a signature.”
“Did you steal?”
“I used Mom’s name when I wasn’t allowed.”
“Why?”
“To try to save a business.”
“Did it work?”
“No.”
Children know where to cut.
She asked:
“Do you go to jail?”
“For a while.”
She cried.
Cedric did too.
May you like
No one said he was leaving because Mom was angry.
That mattered.
