Vengence Is Mine, Sayeth The Law

I believe some things were being sorted out yesterday by police and prosecutors and lawyers (oh my!). I got to talk to my favorite police woman and then I got a call from the county prosecuting attorney. Everyone in this rotten scenario has given their report to the police. Everyone, that is, except the perpetrator. He is currently hiding behind his lawyer. When the police called him to talk, he told them "my lawyer will be in touch". I learned this yesterday and I was furious. It's a completely legal thing that he has the right to say "Nah...I'm not going to talk to you right now...have your people call my people and we'll do lunch..."

It's funny how time is such a relative thing in this situation. From where I'm standing, the fact that my soon-to-be-ex husband has been living free and clear since admitting to committing a horrible sex crime has been ripping my guts out on a daily basis. Once you admit to a crime, you should be locked up, right? You shouldn't be able to go to work and sleep in a warm bed at night, and feel the crisp winter wind on your face. You shouldn't be allowed the possibility of running into your victim at the grocery store.

But apparently from where the police and the victim's advocates that I've been working with are standing, this case is proceeding rather speedily. I guess my call from the prosecuting attorney yesterday was a little unusual at this stage in the game. Normally, all the shit comes out and then the victim is presented with a plea bargain. Basically, the victim is asked "Is this sentence good enough? Will you allow us to knock five years off? Can we? Can we? What do you think???"

That was the option I was presented with yesterday. His lawyer needed to know what the possible sentencing was going to be and so they needed to know how I felt.

The prosecuting attorney told me that this could bring about serious prison time. Did I realize this? Did I want to think about it for awhile before calling him back with my decision?

Ahhhhhh, yeah...I've actually been thinking about it 24-7 since all this shit came out. There is a quote that I particularly like which goes "When one is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates the mind remarkably."

In other words, hubby needed to know if I would "forgive" him enough to cut him some slack.

I told the prosecuting attorney that no, I am not here to plea bargain and yes, I realize that this could mean prison time. Prison time is exactly what he deserves.

I failed to add what was rolling around in the back of my mind. "And I hope he gets a 400 pound cell mate named Bubba. And I hope Bubba likes to dance."

I then proceeded to hang up the phone and curl in the fetal position for the rest of the night.