Chapter 18 - The verdict
The jury acquitted Drusilla on one broader child-endangerment count involving a child whose parent had explicitly authorized “closed-door quiet time” and where video did not clearly show the child trying to leave.
Reasonable doubt.
They convicted on:
Unlawful confinement related to Caleb.
Unlawful confinement related to Josie.
Harassment/assault-related offense for spraying/grabbing Elowen.
A narrower child-endangerment count tied to locked shed conditions.
No felony kidnapping.
No child torture.
No trafficking.
Mixed verdict.
Drusilla looked shocked.
Not because she expected innocence on everything.
Because she believed good intentions should have controlled legal meaning.
They didn’t.
Then sentencing later.
Child welfare administrative result remained separate.
Licensing penalties separate.
Civil suits separate.
Family contact separate.
May you like
One verdict did not resolve everything.
Good.
