Chapter 13 - Marjorie’s Charges
The prosecutor did not charge kidnapping.
Good.
Ione never left.
No physical abduction completed.
Charges eventually filed:
Felony forgery related to altered caregiver/travel consent and school documents.
Attempted custodial interference/unlawful removal of a child.
Misdemeanor child endangerment/cruel discipline based on sleeping arrangement and forced scrubbing.
The exact labels varied by statute.
No trafficking.
No attempted murder.
No fanciful charges.
Marjorie pleaded not guilty.
Her defense:
She genuinely believed the caregiver authorization allowed temporary travel.
Forgery?
She claimed she reformatted an authorization consistent with Fletcher’s intent.
Bad.
School signature?
She claimed I had given general permission for her to sign logistics before.
Sometimes I had.
Summer camp.
Pickup forms.
Never overseas school.
Then travel.
She intended temporary educational visit.
Not permanent deprivation.
True.
Attempted custodial interference count would be contested.
Then chores.
Strict.
May you like
Not abuse.
We had a real trial coming.
