Chapter 22 - THE LAST PLEA OFFER
Prosecutors offered Octavia a negotiated resolution covering:
Child endangerment/unlawful restraint relating to Silas.
Forgery or fraudulent-document offenses tied to the false paternity materials.
Certain financial-fraud counts limited to provable representations and misuse.
No charge claiming she stole the full two million.
No kidnapping.
No trafficking.
No attempt to harm the twins physically over five years.
Sentence recommendation:
Custodial component.
Probation.
Restitution.
No contact with the boys.
Removal from control of family support trusts during supervision.
Mandatory counseling.
Octavia rejected the first offer.
Why?
She would not admit she hid my sons.
Her words through counsel:
“I managed a family crisis.”
Second offer narrowed language.
She still refused.
She wanted the chain called:
“temporary restraint.”
The prosecutor would not sanitize it.
Trial stayed.
Maeve asked me:
“Do you want prison?”
“Yes.”
Then I corrected.
“I want consequence.”
“Same?”
“No.”
I thought.
“Not always.”
May you like
She nodded.
That was as close as we came to agreement about punishment.
