criminal law

I remember attending one of the earliest court hearings with him in mid-May. It was there, for the first time, that I discovered he wasn’t just facing charges for one felony but for five. I can still vividly recall the moment when the judge began reading out the charges in the courtroom, and as each one was announced, he turned and glanced at me. I raised my hand and whispered, "Five." The weight of those words hit me hard, and the reality of the situation sank in.

As we left the courtroom that afternoon, I was struck with the realization that the future I had envisioned would be much more difficult than I had ever imagined. Yet, despite the overwhelming circumstances, I still held on to my belief that people can change. I still believed that everyone deserves a second chance, even if it seemed like a long shot.

In that moment, I truly believed that he deserved that second chance—one to turn his life around. I also believed, with all my heart, that he wanted it too—wanted it with me, with our daughter, and for the future we hoped to build together. Despite the challenges ahead, I wasn’t ready to give up on him, or us.