Chapter 20 - The assault resolutions
Neither case became a sensational felony trial.
Cassandra’s slap caused bruising and swelling but no lasting injury.
Michael’s shove caused Ellen shoulder pain and a deeper arm bruise, no fracture.
Both had clean records.
The video was strong.
The cases resolved separately.
Cassandra accepted a misdemeanor assault disposition with probation, anger-management requirements, and a no-contact condition toward Ellen except through counsel.
Michael accepted a separate misdemeanor battery-related disposition based on grabbing and shoving his mother.
Probation.
Counseling.
Community service.
No prison.
Some relatives were furious.
I was not.
By then I understood criminal court was not responsible for making us emotionally whole.
Ellen submitted a short statement:
May you like
I do not need my son destroyed. I need the court record to reflect that what he did was not a family misunderstanding.
That was exactly right.
