Chapter 13 - The Grand Jury Indictment
On the second week of July, ADA Alvarez presented the evidence to the County Grand Jury.
It didn't take them long to deliberate.
The video footage from the party, Emma’s medical records, the 911 dispatch audio, and the documentation of the stolen trust fund were presented back-to-back.
When the jury foreman emerged, the indictments hit the Vance family like a sledgehammer:
1. **Vanessa Vance:** True bill on three counts of Felony Assault, Child Endangerment with Intent to Cause Serious Physical Harm, and Bail Violation. No bond.
2. **Diane Vance:** True bill for Restraining Order Violation, Obstruction of Justice, and Witness Harassment.
3. **Richard Vance:** True bill for Grand Theft (Class 2 Felony for the stolen trust fund), Wire Fraud, and Criminal Interference with Child Welfare.
Richard had walked into the courthouse that morning wearing a bespoke two-thousand-dollar suit, flanked by two private defense attorneys, convinced he would walk away with a fine.
He walked out of the courtroom in belly chains, his suit jacket confiscated, his mugshot taken alongside his daughter.
The judge set Richard’s bail at two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. When his attorneys tried to post his corporate assets as collateral, the regional bank froze all of Vance Commercial Properties' commercial credit lines.
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Richard didn't have the cash. He was forced to spend the night on a cold bunk in the county jail.
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