Chapter 12 - TWO ASSAULTS
Ainsley’s child-assault case and my own assault case were separate.
They should have been.
Ainsley had slapped Eira hard enough to knock her down.
No serious injury.
Intentional strike.
A four-year-old.
She was charged with misdemeanor assault and a child-related offense appropriate to the jurisdiction.
No attempted murder.
No felony fantasy.
I had slapped Ainsley after I had already separated her from Eira.
Intentional.
Adult victim.
I was charged with misdemeanor assault.
People told me:
Any father would do the same.
I hated that sentence.
Maybe many would.
It still did not make it lawful.
I pleaded no contest.
Fine.
Community service.
Anger-management program.
No jail.
No criminal hero story.
At the program, one counselor asked:
“What did the slap accomplish?”
I wanted to say:
It ended the wedding.
But that was not true.
My words ended the wedding.
My hand frightened Eira.
That was the part I had to own.
I apologized to her.
“Daddy hit Ainsley.”
“I saw.”
“I was angry.”
“She hit me.”
“Yes.”
“That’s why.”
“That explains why I was angry. It doesn’t make hitting okay.”
Eira frowned.
“Then why Ainsley hit?”
“She made a bad choice too.”
“Both trouble?”
“Yes.”
Children understand equal rules better than adults with reputations to defend.
Ainsley went to trial because she disputed intent.
She claimed she reflexively struck Eira after the child grabbed at her wrist.
Guest testimony disagreed.
Eira’s forensic interview was admitted where permitted.
No live courtroom performance.
The judge saw photographs of the cheek mark.
Ainsley was convicted of the misdemeanor assault.
Sentence:
Probation.
Community service.
No contact with Eira during the protective-order term.
Required child-safety counseling.
No dramatic prison.
The physical injury was minor.
The relational damage was not measured by sentencing charts.
Outside court someone shouted:
“Galen, do you forgive her?”
May you like
I kept walking.
Forgiveness was not a court function.
