Chapter 12 - MY MILITARY FILE
Gregory’s defense subpoenaed my military records.
Training.
Discipline.
Any history of violence.
My attorney narrowed scope.
Relevant records showed:
Army MP service.
Defensive tactics qualification.
No combat misconduct.
One disciplinary counseling for excessive force during training?
No.
I had none.
The defense argued my expertise made Gregory more vulnerable once I gained the bat.
True in one sense.
That made restraint more important.
I had not struck him.
I had controlled the weapon.
The state’s use-of-force expert testified later:
Disarming an armed aggressor and using reasonable force to maintain distance can be defensive.
My heel on his shoulder would be scrutinized.
Good.
I did not need mythology.
I needed facts.
Then my own professional mistake surfaced publicly.
Hartman Ridge hired my consulting firm eight months earlier.
Report identified family-master credential weakness.
The defense said:
“Ashlynn knew master cards existed. She knew family could enter.”
Yes.
Knowing a hotel has master access does not mean consenting to being locked in while your husband swings a bat.
Still, I testified truthfully.
I had flagged the weakness.
I had not forced remediation.
I accepted client risk acceptance.
Would I handle it differently now?
Yes.
May you like
Professional humility became part of healing.
Not self-blame.
