Three days later, I found myself sitting in a quiet, glass-walled conference room at the Dallas County District Court. My attorney, Richard Vance, sat to my left, while the prosecuting attorney, Assistant DA Sarah Jenkins, sat across from us reviewing the extensive evidence stack.
Sarah Jenkins: Mr. Miller, the grand jury has officially returned an indictment on all counts. We are pressing charges for felony child endangerment, attempted grand larceny, and second-degree fraud.
Mark: Is there any chance she gets released on bail before the trial date?
Sarah Jenkins: Given the severity of the video evidence and the clear financial motive targeting a minor, the judge set bail at $500,000. She has no assets to post that amount, so she will remain in custody until the court date.
Mark: Good. I want to make sure she never comes anywhere near my daughter ever again.
Richard: We have also secured a permanent protection order that bars her from coming within 1,000 feet of Lily’s school, your home, or your place of work.
Sarah Jenkins: The bank fraud department has also completed their internal investigation. Every single fraudulent document Veronica filed has been officially voided and expunged from the state records.
Just then, the conference room door opened, and Veronica’s court-appointed defense lawyer stepped inside, looking exhausted and grim.
Defense Lawyer: Mr. Miller, my client is begging for a plea deal. She is willing to plead guilty to the financial fraud charges today if you agree to ask the state to drop the child endangerment count.
Mark: A plea deal? After she tried to drown my daughter for money?
Defense Lawyer: She is terrified, Mark. She’s facing up to fifteen years in state prison if this goes to a jury verdict. She wants to apologize to you and Lily directly.
Mark: You go back to that cell and tell your client that she will face every single day of the maximum sentence the judge hands down. She will get no mercy from me.
Defense Lawyer: Mr. Miller, please consider the impact a public trial will have on your family name—
Mark: My family name was protected the moment I pulled my daughter out of that water. Tell her we will see her in court.
Leave a Comment