allocution
Legal Definition of allocution
I previously wrote you all about how to ask your child to lie. Jace refused. Now I am trying to figure out how Jace can possibly show any remorse, when all he feels is betrayed.
Unbelievably, this is the stage we are now facing. Sentencing. August 23rd at 3:30.
So what do you say to the judge who found you guilty when you are innocent?
“Hey Judge, I am so grateful you were smart enough to believe the lying police officer. I was worried there for a while that perhaps telling the truth, and complete cooperation would fool you into believing me! PHEW! That was close!
Even though the ICAC task force follows a list of rules that are unpublished to anyone without a badge, I was concerned that maybe you too would have read the Attorney Generals requirements for a LEGAL proactive sting. Fortunate for me, you have no idea what is required to stay in the good graces of the Attorney General’s ICAC federal funding. Way to take one for the team judge. No sense rocking the boat, right? Washington State is making a mint off all these illegal stings, and I know your kids need new shoes too.
And the facts of the case, namely how I looked for sex on an adults only webpage, along with receiving and meeting a woman well over 18, didn’t deter you at all. It didn’t even make you ASK how that could be legal! WHAT A RELIEF!!
So yea, it shouldn’t matter that I am generous to a fault, the first to help someone in need. That my loving mother installed in me right from wrong, good from bad, truth from injustice at an early age. My learning disability that kept me from my career dream job shouldn’t be taken into consideration for this horrible crime I didn’t commit. Nor the scientific fact that critical parts of the brain involved in decision-making for young men are not fully developed until years later at age 25 or so. Hey! I was 20! Close enough right??
To be completely fair, you should probably lock me up for life. You never know when someone might suddenly SNAP!
Thanks judge, I’m so glad I have had you to look out for me – IN THE NAME OF JUSTICE.”
The Lady Justice Myth 
It’s an incredibly sad thing that were he to make such a statement that Judge would even more want to make life difficult for Jace. I love the styling of the statement!
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What had Jace done from the beginning of the case to the end that showed one cause for the Judge to believe he was not telling the truth. He was shown to have fully cooperated with the police. His electronic device and messages were reviewed by our expert witness that had over 20 yrs work in this field, and he determined, Jace was telling the truth, that he was not a pedophile. He passed 2 lie detectors as to what his intent was, and it was well within the law. He never hemmed or hawed. He spoke right up and clearly answered every question, regardless how demeaning, personal, irrelevant or embarrassing, and he did it with grace and the conviction of an honest, innocent person. So I ask myself, what’s wrong with this picture… well I’ll tell you what’s wrong. These people are guilty until proven innocent, tried through the media and public disapproval, and sentenced by codified laws that fund more stings as long as the numbers keep increasing.
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I would recommend Jace NOT say anything during sentencing. There is no need. Why? Let the sentencing Memo and character letters do the speaking. That should be enough. Judge already doesn’t believe anything so why say anything more. I suppose you could make a political statement about these stings. Or you can possibly state everything led you to believe person on other end was lying and like most things on internet you had to see for yourself. Curiosity and if it was true. Most communication is NON VERBAL and most communication via internet has some deception. So, without further evidence / in person visit it could not be confirmed who was on the other end–sounds like that is what the case is. From the repentance side perhaps one could say once the person stated such a young age, whether I believe it or not, I should have abandoned the conversation and moved on. That is the general gist I get on most of these stings. The Stings are “too easy” in so many ways: they reply back quickly, they provide all the details, easy to converse with, seems “too good to be true” and perhaps there is no money or other exchange. A true Friend with Benefits. There is always a gotcha (age). But some get so drawn in by that point it doesn’t really matter. Hey even those IRS and Nigerian scammers get people. There are a lot of gullible (trusting/etc.) people out there to be suckered. It is likely most everyone has been nabbed by some scam at one time or another. Usually you only have to get burned one time. Good luck whatever you decided to do. I would favor do not say anything. Second option would be to explain what happened, admit you got duped and repent saying you should have (and would now) stop when age was disclosed. It isn’t admitting guilt, just that you weren’t very smart/thinking clearly–more probable for a younger, impulsive and sometimes lazier generation. With that said, you’ll need to find it in your heart to forgive yourself and those who put you behind bars before doing so otherwise, back to option #1–don’t say anything.
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