The Courthouse

[Lupy]

A massive marble building built to uphold town law, the courthouse dominates Main Street. The large bronze doors are always open, a symbol that anyone may come here to contact the law.

[Quinsar]

The judge "Vince" is here... Deadtime.

[FireFox]

The District Attorney and the Federal prosecuter "Mr. Tudor" is also here. In his office going over paperwork.

[Lupy]

Lupy enters the courthouse and pins up a notice that the case: The Town vs. Lucas Marento is open to the public. A very large courtroom is being used, the largest in the building. The attorneys, Mister Tudor and Marquee Marus and have schedueled the trial to begin as soon as is physically possible.

[FireFox]

It would actually be: The Town vs. Lucas Marento.

[Lupy]

Fixed.

[FireFox]

Mr. Tudor is waiting for the police to take the defendent into custody so he can interrogate him...

[accuracy17(fav#]

(( Lupy are you going to change your avatar soon? ))

[Lupy]

((It's for Mistaken Identity Week ACC. As you know, I just love cats. ))

The Police arrive with Lucas, who is wearing his usual robes. He seems somewhat miffed about being handled so roughly. They take him into Mr. Tudor's office and then return to the hallway.

[FireFox]

Alrighty then Mr. Marento, let's hear your statement.

((Deadtime, just post his full statement here and then have the cops put him in jail for the night.))

[Lupy]

Mister Tudor, on Wendsday August 7th I was serving gate duty at the Cathedral. A druid came in, Mister Tobias, with two rather scantily clad girls. Mister Tobias ordered the two to "get me laid" and left to speak to the Archbishop, though about what I do not know. I was able to use my magic to avoid them and they began to leave me alone. Later a girl of the same age came in wearing a trench coat and I feared the worst. She said that someone was killing her sister which raised my alarm. She revealed to me that she had been conducting acts of prostitution to earn the money to pay her sister's ransom. She said that she needed "sixty-nine more" to complete the ransom and so I gave her the bag of gold. She said she was scared to go meet the hostage taker and asked me to come and so I did. She lead me to the Greyfish hotel on fifth street and up to a room, saying that this was the site. I entered the room and was grabbed by another girl and... The event transpired that I was burtally raped.

[FireFox]

((Hm, scratch that last,I habe a few more minutes.))

So you admit that you had sex with an underage girl?

[Lupy]

I was raped by two girls the same age, perhaps sixteen. As you can see I am not a large man and I was overpowered.

EDIT: Does he have the right to an attorney right now?

[FireFox]

I see... You are aware that while you may have been forced into the act, having sex with underage parties means that the legal party is the guilty one in statutory rape?

Yes, he does...

[Lupy]

How is that correct when I was, as you say, "forced into the act," may I request an attorney?

There is the sound of someone entering the hallway outside, Marquee Marus, attorney to Lucas Marento. You have to let me in.

[FireFox]

Yes, you may. "Statutory rape" really just means "having sex with underage people". The look on Mr. Tudor's face indicates he doesn't like that he has to do this to Lucas... Come in.

[Lupy]

But Sir, you could cast a zone of truth, I tried to stop them. Don't you see that while I have done great sin, it was not of my own will?

Marus is arguing with the police who don't believe that Lupy hired him for Lucas.

[Beholder1995]

*cough* DFI *cough*

[FireFox]

Let the lawyer in. He sighs. Mr. Marento: according to the law you have committed a crime. The closest analogy is if you were holding a knife and you were accidentally pushed into someone and killed them... Even though you did not mean it, you would still be guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter.

[Lupy]

Marquee Marus stumbles in, glaring at the police. He wears an oldtimey suit with coattails. He is a well known failure in the legal world. My client is inno-!!

Lucas gives him a strange look, shakes his head quickly, and turns back to Mr. Tudor, So I am guilty of this most heinous crime? He looks about ready to cry. Marus is looking for a place to sit, knocking over a stack of papers in the process.

[FireFox]

I am sure I can persuade the judge to be lenient in your sentence if you plead Guilty. Of course, if you have any other information to offer us for other crimes you may know about your sentence will be reduced.

[Lupy]

Information on crimes? I know of nothing save what I hear from behind the conffesional curtain, and of that I may not speak.

Marus finally flips over a vase by accident, shrugs, and sits on that. Lucas looks at him horrified. Can I represent myself Sir?

[FireFox]

Of course. Mr. Tudor stares at the bumbling lawyer incredulously. Yes... you may represent yourself...

[Lupy]

No need though! Marquee Marus is here to defend you!

Lucas looks even more terrified, That, em, won't be necessary Sir...

Marus interrupts him. My client will plead guilty, but not unless we agree to a greatly reduced sentence.

((What would be a normal sentence in a relatively conservative state?))

[FireFox]

((Idunno, probably...))

If your client does not plead guilty he will receive a much higher sentence. We have an airtight case here. Your client is looking at jail time either way, pleading guilty will just get him less.

[Lupy]

The bail has to be lowered too! ((Or is there even a bail on Statuatory Rape? I hope not. ))

[FireFox]

That is something to take up with the judge. As DA, I will of course be recommending to His Honor that your client not be set free on bail.

[Lupy]

But, but, but I they... *sigh* I will take what punishment is given as being given by my god.

No, my client is guilty, but only in the loosest sense of the word.

[FireFox]

Mr. Tudor signals to the cops to take him to the jail.

((Deadtime))

[Lupy]

Lucas goes without resisting and Marus leaves looking like he actually did something.