Chapter 19 - Arthur’s case
Arthur eventually accepted responsibility.
Not immediately.
His first proposed statement:
I regret that Clara interpreted my attempt to redirect Gigi as aggressive.
Rejected.
Second:
I should have allowed Clara to manage the situation.
Better.
Still avoided the verb.
The prosecutor had:
Video.
Hospital documentation.
Witnesses.
His initial inaccurate statement.
No serious bodily injury.
No prior criminal record.
Arthur ultimately resolved the case through a misdemeanor assault/endangering-related plea appropriate to the jurisdiction and facts.
He admitted:
He intentionally struck Gigi.
He did so as punishment.
He had no parental authority to use physical discipline.
The sentence was not years in prison.
Probation.
Community service.
Anger-management and parenting-boundary education.
No contact with Gigi unless both parents consented and any child-safety recommendations were satisfied.
Restitution for medical expenses not covered by insurance.
The judge looked at Arthur and said:
“A toddler touching a ribbon is not a challenge to your authority because you had no authority over her to defend.”
I wrote that down later from the transcript.
Simple.
My own diversion finished three months afterward.
Course completed.
Community service.
Victoria’s urgent-care expenses reimbursed.
No new offense.
My charge was dismissed under the agreed program.
Did I enjoy telling people that?
No.
Did I regret accepting responsibility?
May you like
Also no.
It prevented me from turning protection into a personal exemption from rules.
