Chapter 13 - MY SLAP
My misdemeanor battery case resolved before Victoria’s homicide trial.
The prosecutor offered diversion.
Anger counseling.
Community service.
No jail.
Potential dismissal after successful completion.
Rebecca said I had a strong argument for defense-of-child context.
Not complete self-defense.
Victoria had reached toward Sophia.
I had turned away.
Then advanced and struck her.
Video showed it.
I watched.
One step.
My choice.
“I’ll take the plea.”
Rebecca looked at me.
“You understand this may be used in civil litigation?”
“Yes.”
“You may win at trial.”
“I don’t want Sophia growing up with a father who says retaliation becomes defense if the other person is awful enough.”
The judge asked:
“Why did you strike her?”
“I wanted to hurt her.”
“Were you protecting your daughter?”
“I had already moved Sophia away from her reach.”
“Do you regret intervening?”
“No.”
“The strike?”
“Yes.”
No dramatic hero speech.
The court accepted diversion.
Community service at a family meal program.
The irony was unbearable.
First day:
I packed grocery boxes.
No cameras.
No Sterling name.
An older volunteer told me I stacked canned beans badly.
She was correct.
I returned the next week.
Not punishment eventually.
Routine.
Sophia sometimes joined when older.
May you like
Not because I turned accountability into family branding.
Because packing cereal is useful.
