Double Dysfunctions

Chapter Six

          "All rise! Announcing the honorable Judge Glenda Hartman."

          This was what the bailiff yelled as the judge entered the courtroom.

          "Thank you. You may be seated." said the judge as she took her place behind the bench. "Bailiff, read off the docket, please."

          The bailiff stood and replied, "My pleasure, your Honor. This is case number 0001-090109. The state of California versus James Aaron Comer. The defendant is charged with rape in the first degree."

          "Thank you, kindly, Bailiff," Judge Hartman muttered distractedly. She then looked up from the papers on her desk and focused her attention on the District Attorney, Esmeralda Santos-Cruz.

          Mrs. Santos-Cruz was absolutely and irrevocably the most beautiful woman that James had ever laid eyes on. Her hair looked as if were molten gold. She had a cute, heart-shaped face and voluptuous cupid's-bow lips. Her complexion couldn’t have been any healthier if she had wanted it to be. Her perfectly-shaped hourglass figure had the distinct curvature of a competitive cheerleader.

          "Mrs. Santos-Cruz, I assume that you're prepared to take this case on such short notice?" asked the judge as she shuffled a few papers around on her desk.

          The D.A. barely had time to utter a meek "yes m'am" before the judge moved on to address James' court-appointed defense attorney. "How does the defendant plead, Mr. Niccole?"

          James attorney, Samuel Niccoli, was a competent-looking lawyer. He was at least six inches taller than James was himself; James guessed that his lawyer was around six-foot-four. Mr. Niccoli had wavy, dirty blonde hair that was styled in a way that made him appear younger than his actual age. His azure-colored eyes sparkled with the obvious delight he gained from representing a client in a court of law.

          Mr. Niccoli stood and announced to the judge and jury, "Not guilty, your Honor."

          "Thank you, Counselor. Now, Mrs. Santos-Cruz, you may proceed with your opening statement."

          The confidence written across the D.A.'s face couldn't have been more alarming to James than if she had the jury's verdict in hand. "Thank you, your Honor. Now, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I'd like to first discuss..."

          And, to James at least, the trial dragged on and on in a similar manner for hours. It was with a sinking feeling in the bowels of his stomach that he stood up after the jury had returned to the courtroom with their verdict.

          Judge Hartman spoke first. "Foreman of the jury, have you made a unanimous decision on the verdict of this case?"

          The foreman, a shorter, stocky man in an expensive tuxedo stood. "Yes, your Honor. We of the jury find James Aaron Comer guilty of rape in the first degree."

          Pleased with his announcement, the foreman sat back down and threw James a smug look as he did so.

          "Very well," said the judge. "We will reconvene tomorrow for sentencing. Court dismissed."

*        *        *

          At the crack of dawn the next morning, James was harshly awakened by the guard that had been stationed outside his cell the previous afternoon.

          "Get the fuck up, pervert! It's time for us to find out if you're gonna get gassed for raping that poor woman!" yelled the guard as he cockily opened the barred cell door and brandished a set of stainless steel handcuffs in James' face.