Chapter 9 - Justice Served
Six months later, the Maricopa County Superior Courthouse was bustling with morning foot traffic.
Daniela and I sat on the polished oak benches of Courtroom 4B, dressed in formal attire. Marcus Vance sat beside us at the plaintiff's table, organizing a crisp stack of legal documents.
Today was the final sentencing hearing.
The heavy double doors at the side of the courtroom opened, and Patricia and Julian were led in by two armed bailiffs.
They both wore bright orange county jail jumpsuits, their hands and ankles bound by heavy steel chains that clanked loudly against the floorboards. Julian looked defeated, his arrogant posture completely shattered, with his head hanging low.
Patricia looked older by twenty years. Without her expensive makeup, salon hair treatments, and designer clothing, her hollow cheekbones and bitter, sunken eyes were laid bare. Her gaze swept across the courtroom and landed on me and Daniela.
She opened her mouth, trying to mouth the word ""Please,"" but Daniela looked straight ahead, holding my hand firmly, refusing to acknowledge her existence. Daniela was no longer a frightened girl cowed by a manipulative mother; she was a survivor standing tall beside her protector.
Judge Harrison took the bench, banging his gavel three times to bring the room to order.
""In the matter of the State of Arizona versus Julian Morales and Patricia Santos,"" Judge Harrison began, his deep voice commanding total silence. ""The defendants have entered guilty pleas to charges of conspiracy to commit grand theft, felony domestic battery causing grievous bodily harm, child endangerment, and attempted grand larceny.""
The prosecutor stood up, delivering a blistering five-minute summary of the evidence, highlighting the security camera footage that showed Patricia leaving our daughter unconscious on the floor for nearly two hours while plotting her escape.
Judge Harrison adjusted his reading glasses, glaring down at Patricia with absolute disdain.
""Mrs. Santos, in my thirty years on the bench, I have rarely seen such an appalling display of maternal cruelty. You betrayed the sacred trust of a parent, attempted to financially ruin a man who worked himself to the bone to provide for you, and left your own child bleeding on the floor without calling for medical help. Your actions show a complete absence of basic human decency.""
Patricia began sobbing, dabbing her nose with the sleeve of her prison jumpsuit. ""Your Honor, please, I made a terrible mistake—""
""A mistake is forgetting to pay a utility bill, ma'am,"" Judge Harrison cut her off sharply. ""What you did was calculated, predatory evil.""
The judge slammed his gavel.
""Julian Morales, having violated parole and committed multiple violent felonies, is sentenced to twenty-five years in the Arizona State Prison Complex without the possibility of parole. Patricia Santos, for your direct role in the aggravated assault and attempted financial devastation of your family, is hereby sentenced to eighteen years in state prison.""
Patricia let out a loud wail, sinking back into her chair as the bailiffs grabbed her arms to escort her out.
Judge Harrison then turned his attention to our civil suit.
""Regarding the civil dissolution of marriage and damages: The court approves the emergency decree. Mr. Javier Santos is awarded one hundred percent of the marital residence, all retirement assets, and all joint bank accounts. Furthermore, Patricia Santos is ordered to pay two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in civil damages to Daniela Santos, to be garnished from any future earnings, assets, or inheritance.""
Bang!
""Court is adjourned.""
May you like
As the bailiffs led Patricia toward the side exit, she turned back one last time, screaming my name through her tears. ""Javier! You can't do this to me! You loved me!""
I didn't answer. I stood up, buttoned my suit jacket, and placed an arm around Daniela’s shoulders. We turned our backs on Patricia and walked out through the main doors into the bright, clean Arizona sunshine.
