Chapter 22 - Lucas’s sentence
Lucas received no jail.
For the misdemeanor evidence-interference conviction:
Eighteen months probation.
Eighty hours community service.
No interference with electronic evidence.
Compliance with family-court orders.
Fine.
Mandatory parenting/accountability course continued.
Could judge sentence harder?
Maybe.
But no prior criminal record.
Minor physical contact with Natalie.
Phone preserved anyway.
No direct injury from his offense.
Then Lucas spoke.
“I thought the recording would be used to destroy me.”
Judge responded:
“That was not your decision to make by grabbing it from someone in front of police.”
Simple.
Then family court.
His acquittal on child-endangerment count did not erase evaluator findings.
Still:
He had complied for months.
No contact with Valerie.
No missed visits.
No new manipulation.
His parenting time expanded to:
One midweek unsupervised dinner.
Alternating Saturday daytime.
Short Sunday block on alternate week.
No overnights yet.
Mia visits remained shorter and age-appropriate.
Sophie had begun hugging him again.
Owen never stopped.
May you like
I did not love that.
I did not interfere.
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