Chapter 21 - Harold’s plea
Harold’s cases took almost two years.
Child assault and restraint.
Financial offenses.
Different evidence.
Different harms.
His lawyers challenged intent.
Loss.
Authentication.
My role.
Christine’s memory.
The child interview.
Eventually Harold entered negotiated pleas.
For Jake:
An offense reflecting assaultive conduct against a restrained minor and unlawful restraint-related behavior.
For finances:
Several counts tied to false financial documentation and unauthorized use of identifying information.
Not racketeering.
Not kidnapping for ransom.
Not decades upon decades.
He received a meaningful custodial sentence followed by supervision.
Financial restitution.
Restrictions.
Loss of several professional privileges he still held in retirement-related consulting.
No theatrical judge calling him a monster.
At sentencing Harold said:
“I believed I was protecting my family’s finances.”
Then:
“I believed my grandson had been used to search my office.”
Jake had not.
Harold continued:
“I was wrong.”
The prosecutor asked:
“Wrong about which part?”
Harold looked down.
May you like
“About all of it.”
That was the closest he came to surrendering control of the narrative.
