Chapter 19 - Lucas goes to trial
Lucas rejected a plea that included admission he intended to create false evidence for custody.
He insisted:
He wanted accurate documentation of my genuine behavior.
Prosecutor pursued:
Attempted evidence interference for lunging at hidden phone after officers arrived.
A misdemeanor endangerment-related count based on knowingly keeping young children inside an escalating confrontation.
A narrower coercive conduct count tied to orchestrating encounter? The court dismissed one theory before trial for insufficient statutory fit.
Good.
No creative overcharging.
Then trial.
Old phone.
His own phone.
Camera logs.
Texts.
James Porter’s limited waived communications.
Children did not testify live unnecessarily.
Their forensic statements used only as permitted; much of case did not need them.
Officer Benton testified:
Lucas ignored command to stop and grabbed Natalie’s wrist while reaching for phone.
Defense:
He believed she was taking private property.
But police had arrived.
Phone contained incident recording.
He had no right to seize it by force.
Then child endangerment.
Was shouting in front of kids enough?
No.
But Lucas deliberately kept them in immediate area after confrontation became hostile.
Did he know Valerie had pan before first strike?
He saw her pick it up.
He said “Valerie.”
Did he remove children?
No.
Did he intervene?
No.
Could this satisfy charged negligence/recklessness?
Jury would decide.
Then broader manipulation.
Family court evidence was not all admissible criminally.
May you like
Important.
Criminal trial stayed narrow.
