EXTRACT FOR
Ballbusting Justice
(Scarlett Steele)

"Lucas Shield," the judge's voice carried over the courtroom. Lucas stood and looked confidently at the judge. His attorney had been certain he'd get a light sentence this time. "Probably time served and probation," he'd said. He hadn't been surprised by the guilty verdict. This wasn't his first tangle with the system. He'd been in and out of jail since he was a teenager in juvie.

"Mr. Shield, you have been found guilty of armed robbery, assault, breaking and entering, assaulting a police officer, attempted rape, and a laundry list of other minor charges." Lucas glared at the attorney. The judge did not sound like she was going to let  him off with time served. "I took some time in deciding your sentence. In fact, I consulted with several other justices before coming to a conclusion. While I can't consider your past records when deciding on a verdict, we can look at your record when it comes time for sentencing. I wonder, Mr. Shield, are you aware of the new sentencing laws that just went into effect? For criminals such as yourself, with high rates of recidivism, I have quite a bit of leeway."



Lucas tuned her out and whispered to his attorney, "What the fuck is she talking about man? You said this would be a cakewalk!" His attorney just shook his head and motioned for him to be quiet. Lucas looked around the courtroom while the judge droned on. He should be walking away from this, but this cunt was going to see him back in jail. Fuck. He'd been there before. He could deal. He had friends on the inside, he could still keep things going. No problem.

He took a deep breath as he sensed she was winding down. If he went to jail for a while, so be it. He wasn't in any danger there. No one could touch him. No one dared.



"Mr. Shield, it is the order of this court that you be remanded into the custody of Harmony Home for thirty days. If in that time, you can turn yourself around and be a model citizen, we will reconsider sentencing. If, however, you fail, well..." she paused for a moment and smiled down at him. "Mr. Shield, this is your third strike. I can, right now, choose to put you away for the rest of your life. With the current convictions, you might be eligible for parole in, oh, twenty years. I suggest you learn some fast lessons at Harmony Home, Mr. Shield. If you come back to me in thirty days and you have not, I will put you away for as long as I possibly can."



"That's not so bad," he turned to his attorney with a smile, "thirty days in rehab. I can handle." He stopped when he saw his attorney's expression. The man looked terrified.