Chapter 17 - Karen’s plea offer
The prosecutor initially charged Karen with a serious felony assault offense based on the intentional shove and my serious injuries, along with reckless-endangerment conduct.
No attempted murder.
No prosecutor claimed she intended my death.
The defense argued:
She intended only to move me away during an argument.
The prosecution argued:
She intentionally used substantial force knowing I was inches from an elevated railing.
The security video was strong.
Witnesses strong.
Her immediate statements strong.
The case could have gone to trial.
Karen accepted a plea.
Not immediately.
Eleven months after the shower.
She admitted intentionally shoving me during the confrontation.
Admitted knowing the balcony edge was directly behind me.
Admitted her action caused my fall and serious injuries.
The final conviction was a felony assault-related offense.
Sentence:
Twenty-two months of incarceration.
A longer suspended component.
Three years of supervision after release.
No direct contact with me unless I requested modification.
Restitution for uninsured medical costs.
No decades.
No attempted-murder fantasy.
Serious.
Proportionate.
Karen was sixty-three by sentencing.
She cried.
I did not speak to her.
My victim statement said:
May you like
“My mother did not need to intend my death for her decision to be dangerous enough.”
That was the sentence I wanted in the record.
