Chapter 22 - Diane’s sentence
Diane’s sentencing occurred first.
The judge considered:
Her age.
No prior criminal record.
Her belief in harsh discipline.
Prior administrative finding involving Noah.
The repeated decision to disregard safer boundaries.
Lily’s young age.
Medication exposure.
No severe permanent physical injury.
Sentence:
Four years imprisonment, with eighteen months suspended.
Thirty months to serve.
Two years supervised probation after release.
No unsupervised caregiving of minors during probation.
No contact with Lily absent family-court authorization.
Restitution:
Specific uninsured medical and therapy expenses.
No millions.
No confiscation of her house.
Then Diane spoke.
“I was trying to teach discipline.”
The judge said:
“A two-year-old does not learn discipline from a locked basement.”
Diane looked at me.
Not Ryan.
Me.
May you like
Still the outsider in her story.
I looked away.
