He find his daughter locked in a dog cage—then her warning about the pool reveals someone is still inside
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Chapter 20 / 27
Chapter 20 - Cole’s plea
Cole faced charges tied to theft, unlawful confinement, child endangerment, and intimidation.
The final charging language depended on state statutes and evidence.
No kidnapping-for-ransom fantasy.
No attempted murder.
No trafficking.
He eventually entered a plea to several counts after prosecutors agreed to dismiss overlapping charges.
His record mattered.
So did his prior addiction history.
So did the fact Emily was ten.
So did the padlock.
He received a multi-year custodial sentence with part suspended, followed by probation and restitution obligations.
Long enough to be serious.
Not life.
The judge told him:
“A child is not a storage problem.”
May you like
I remember that sentence.
Cole stared at the table.
