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“All rise! All rise!” the bailiff said.
Everyone stood.
“The Honorable Judge Lewis D. Fritz presiding!”
“Please be seated.” Judge Fritz banged his gavel.
Everyone sat down and got comfortable. Another door opened, and in walked the jurors, who filed into the two rows and took their seats.
When the room became quiet, Judge Fritz asked, “Has the jury reached a decision?”
The foreman of the jury, an older white male, stated, “Yes, Your Honor.”
“Let me see the verdict,” Judge Fritz said.
The verdict sheet was passed to the judge. Once he read it, he had the bailiff pass the sheet back to the foreman.
Judge Fritz said, “The jury will now read the verdict on the defendant Dante Reed at this time.” He told Dante. “Please stand.”
Dante and Kendall both stood to await his fate. Dante was nervous, but he carefully hid his emotions.
Judge Fritz gave the jury foreman a nod, letting him know it was time to read the verdict.
“In the case of The State versus Dante Reed on the charge of insurance fraud, we the jury find the defendant guilty.”
Dante’s shoulders and head dropped in defeat, and he took a deep breath, as he had been holding it in. Kendall patted him on the shoulder for comfort.
“In the case of The State versus Dante Reed on the charge of welfare fraud, we the jury find the defendant not guilty.”
Dante was relieved, but he knew those weren’t the worst of the charges against him.
Diamond sat there smiling up at her son. She knew if they found him not guilty, they would definitely find her not guilty.
The juror continued to read the other charges brought against Dante, who immediately held his head low again, fearing the result.
“Don’t worry, kid,” Kendall whispered. “Hang in there. Hold your head up, man.”
Dante lifted his head to face the other charges brought against him.
Judge Fritz had to bang his gavel because of all the buzzing in the room. “Order!” he yelled. Then he told the foreman, “Go on.”
Dante’s legs weakened. He didn’t know if he would be able to keep standing if he was found guilty of any more charges. Not really knowing the amount of time issued for the guilty charge, he just figured the worst. Calculating the time he would have to serve so far, he figured he was gonna be sentenced to at least twenty years.
Kendall gave Dante a pat on his shoulder again to assure him it wasn’t as bad as he was thinking.
Diamond, seeing how nervous Dante was, said to him, “It’s gonna be all right, son. I’ll make sure to come see you.”
Dante glared at his mother. She’d never cared before, so he knew she didn’t care now. Preacher was right about her, he realized at that moment. He turned his head when the man began to read the verdict for the murder charge, the one he feared the most.
“In the case of The State versus Dante Reed on the charge of first degree murder of Dr. Michael Ricci, we the jurors find the defendant not guilty.”
Dante and Kendall yelled out in victory and gave each other a hug. Although he would be sentenced on other charge, Dante was thrilled that he was found not guilty on the murder charge.
Judge Fritz continued to bang his gavel to quiet the now noisy courtroom.
Prosecutor Swartz was partially satisfied with the verdict. She didn’t have much to go on, as far as Dante was concerned, but she desperately wanted to put Diamond behind bars for life. She knew that woman was pure evil.
“Order in my courtroom!” Judge Fritz yelled.
