The courtroom was packed. Brinus's case attracted the attention of the lawtuber community because of the syndicate connection.
The courtroom was filled with cigarette smoke and vapor. It was paneled with Baroque paneling and had white marble floors. There were paneled oak wood banisters and judges, witnesses, and jury seats. However, there was no jury.
The judge came out of his chambers; he was a stern smokey gray catperson in the judge's robes. His tail swished side to side.
“We have reached a deal with the prosecution. It looks like Prisoner 4546 was in talks with a Navy recruiter to join before the incident. Correct?” the judge asked.
The public defender said, “Yes your honor.”
“I will rule that when he reaches 21 he will be sentenced to the navy under the convict recruitment program. Otherwise, this will count as a parole violation of his original parole agreement with the syndicate. He will be up for early recruitment in three years since he is still a minor. He will pay the repairs of the damages and the court costs to a total of 62,429 credits. It is payable in cash or wire transfer. I believe the syndicate will cover the costs as severance pay. Do you agree with these terms Prisoner 4546?”
Brinus leaned into the mic, “Yes, your honor.”
“You also acknowledge that by accepting this plea deal you accept the consequences of your actions and take a non-reversible sentence under Saffron Law?”
“Yes, your honor.”
“Is anyone coercing you to take this plea deal?”
“No, your honor.”
“Right so let the record state that you take this deal by your own free will. You will join the Navy at 21 serving a 20-year sentence with a chance for early recruitment at 19. Next case.”
The judge hit his gavel and Brinus was escorted to the jail. Brinus realized His fate was sealed.
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Colleta and Briggs were in red jumpsuits. They were in handcuffs covered in bruises and cuts from getting into constant fights in jail. They were in a room with no windows, one door, and a desk with a computer terminal. The judge was on a conference call in her office. Her office was sterile with no decorations or decorative panels.
“Colleta Von Hoffenstoff and Jorge Briggs, How do y’all plead?”
“Not Guilty,” said Briggs into the mic.
“No contest,” said colleta.
“Very well colleta. You are sentenced for twenty-five to life for the charge of felony kidnapping of a minor under 18. You are sentenced to 30 years for both counts each of abuse of public office. You are also sentenced to the mandatory sentence of 75 years for the charge of damage of civic property totaling more than one million credits with a restitution fee of 3,000,000 credits plus another 62,000 credits or court costs and prison costs paid to the magi order. To pay off this debt you be sentenced to the Brickingham Tarken Tea Plantation until your debt is paid. You will be shipped out in the morning.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Coletta screamed as she was taken away by guards.
“Detective Briggs your trial date is set for six weeks from today. Do you still wish to represent yourself?”
“Yes.”
“By doing so you give up the right to contest the charges later because of poor council and if you make a mistake you will be treated the same as a lawyer.”
“I agree.”
“Very well your trial date is set for the fourteenth of tenth month. This hearing is adjourned.”
The screen cut off. Brigg knew he lost but he just wanted to make a spectacle. He was going to pull the sovereign citizen defense like they did in the Federation. He knew he had no hope so may as well give them a show.
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Harper waited outside the main entrance of a tutoring center for homeschooled students. He had a cigarette in his mouth as he tilted his head back and blew the smoke out with a smile on his face. It felt good to smoke after being without for an hour. In the learning center, they didn’t let people smoke while tutoring was in session. He took a final deep draw and crushed the fully smoked butt in the ashtray by the door.
His foster mom pulled up a few minutes later. “Hey, chyle.”
Chyle rolled her eyes as Harper came into the car. “I know you smoke but can’t you wait until you get home and do it outside in the area we made for you? Derrick doesn’t mind but the smell irritates my sinuses.”
Harper nodded.
“Did you get your first grades?”
Harper handed Chyle his report card. It had three Bs and a C.
“This is a lot better than I expected to be honest.”
“What were you were expecting?”
“Honestly a lot of Cs and Ds. I got you something...and it isn’t replicated.” Chyl handed Harper a cherry wood box stained in tong oil. He opened and inside was a cigar. “That cigar is worth 400 credits. Enjoy.” Chyl winked at him as the car drove to their house.
“You know, I hated myself when I was partying and I was so bad to Brinus. I feel like I achieved something for the first time in my life. I want to prove myself worthy of Brinus’s love.”
“You must have cared about him very much to let him go. Maybe your next boyfriend will be better. Oh, I need you to sign some documents when we get home. We’re adopting you today.”
Harper was stunned into silence.
“We want you to be a member of our family.”
“Thank you.” Harper began to tear up.
The family drove off into the sunset as Harper faced a new future filled with Promise and hope.
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Brinus sat in the visitor’s room of the jail. It had fluorescent lights and concrete brick walls with beige paint. five tables each had four chairs and an ashtray in the center of each table. The floor was a simple beige tile.
He was told he had a visitor however he had been waiting for fifteen minutes and was getting antsy.
The navy recruiter entered the visitor room and sat across from Brinus. “I am disappointed in you. You could have been recruited at the rank of an acting lieutenant with your test results and skills. Now, as a convict recruit, you will start as a cadet and face a lot of discrimination.”
“I was upset because…”
The recruiter held up his hand and made a shushing sound. “I don’t want to hear you justify yourself. You know what you did and now you will have to face the consequences. I don’t care what your excuse is you need to shape the fuck up or you will spend the rest of your life in a labor camp. You’re lucky we are about to be at war.” He realized he said too much in frustration.
Seeing someone like Brinus throw away their future always upset him. Yes, he was a recruiter but he cared about getting criminals off the streets. The reason he became a recruiter was to help underprivileged kids like Brinus seek a better life.
“I am leaving. Good luck to you and I hope you find what you're looking for.”
Brinus was escorted back to his jail cell by two guards. They uncuffed and unshackled him. He saw the four packs of cigarettes on his bed and realized how much he screwed up. He also saw a card for an anti-police lawyer. He walked over to the phones and dialed the number.
"This is the law offices of James Shovolov. How may I help you?"
"I want to sue the magi for breach of Article 4 of the police code of conduct and Section 6 of the criminal code of conduct. My name is Brinus Helios. Prisoner 4546."
"Right. Your client everyone has been trying to get ahold of. Let me patch you through to him."