Chapter 18 - THE CHARGES
Prosecutors separated the conduct.
Lucia faced serious charges related to:
Newborn identity tampering.
Attempted custodial interference or child abduction under applicable law.
Interference with another family’s infant.
Child endangerment.
Tampering with medical identification.
Potential assault related to dumping dirty water on Gianna, depending statutory classification.
No attempted murder.
No trafficking.
No fake sensationalism.
No infant left the hospital.
No permanent physical injury.
That would matter at sentencing.
Serena faced narrower charges.
Knowing assistance after the switch.
Attempted concealment of evidence.
Participation in the intended unauthorized transfer.
The prosecution did not claim she designed the switch.
Evidence did not support that.
Then my slap.
Separate misdemeanor diversion.
No merging.
Then hospital civil liability.
Separate.
Then family no-contact orders.
Separate.
Law was slower than anger.
That was useful.
Lucia remained on bond under strict conditions after initial detention because she had no prior criminal record and no evidence of flight plan.
No contact with Gianna.
No contact with twins.
No unsupervised hospital access.
Passport surrendered under court terms.
Serena also remained out pending proceedings, subject to orders.
Some Bellante relatives called me.
“Why are they not in jail?”
“Because trial hasn’t happened.”
“They admitted—”
“Some facts.”
“Then use your influence.”
“No.”
I surprised myself.
May you like
Once, I would have made three calls.
Now I did not want a verdict touched by my name.
