Jackie D. - Life After A Balla

This time the C.O. didn’t respond. The expression on his face made it obvious that he believed the conversation was getting out of hand. Once they finally reached the lower level and the elevator doors opened, he escorted Asia out of a back door and into a van where several other inmates were also waiting to go to court. She sat in the van looking at the other women wondering what crime they’d committed. Asia didn’t consider herself a criminal and couldn’t believe she had to be in such close quarters with possible murderers.

During the short ride to the court building, her mind was fixated on a plan to get out. But with no money, it was beginning to look like a difficult task. Even the money she’d stolen from the white guy might not have been enough. Not to mention, the police hadn’t allowed Asia to retrieve her purse from the hotel room the night she was arrested, so she was sure it had been stolen by now.

When the van pulled up at the courthouse a few minutes later, Asia along with the other female inmates were escorted inside on a back elevator and up to a waiting room until it was time for them to see the judge. Several agonizing minutes later, Asia was the first to be called. Her stomach did all sorts of somersaults as a court officer escorted her into the courtroom and sat her down at a table.

Asia lowered her head in disbelief.

The entire time she’d been in Miami, Asia was determined to get inside a courtroom, but not this way. She was supposed to be on the plaintiff side with a huge smile on her face once the judge told her the amount she’d be getting from Sandino. Now, Asia was the defendant, facing possible jail time for something that she knew she was guilty of.

“I just need my bond to be as low as possible, so I can have a chance at getting out,” Asia said with her head still lowered. She was too embarrassed to look up.

Suddenly the baliff blurted out, “All rise, this court is now in session. The Honorable Judge Randolph is presiding.”

Asia stood up, still focusing on the old wooden table as the judge entered the court room and took a seat at his bench.

“You may be seated,” the judge responded.

Another court officer then called out a docket number and yelled, “People versus Asia Jones!”

The officer escorted Asia up in front of the judge as he took a minute to review her file. When he finally looked up, his facial expression immediately changed. His face seemed completely flushed.

“So, we meet again, Ms. Jones.”

Asia looked like she’d seen a ghost when she realized the judge was the man she’d robbed two days prior. She suddenly felt sick to her stomach and weak at the knees when beads of sweat quickly formed on her forehead.

Oh my God. I’m fucked , she thought.

The judge smirked before continuing. “Ms. Jones, you have been charged with one count of child abandonment, one count of child endangerment and one count of child neglect. How do you plead?”

Asia wanted to say something, but couldn’t get the words out.

“How do you plead, Ms. Jones.” he asked again.

She cleared her throat. “Umm…not guilty, Your Honor. I didn’t do anything wrong. I really need to get out so I can go get my son.”

“Is this the same son that you left alone in a hotel?” the judge asked.

Asia looked at him with a dumbfounded look on her face. “It didn’t happen the way those people in the hotel are saying it did.”

Several of the people in the courtroom looked at her with disgust. Regardless of what her reason or excuse was, when cases involved children, bystanders were usually non- forgiving. The judge obviously wasn’t buying it either.

Moments later, the clerk interrupted by passing the judge a piece of paper. After reading it, he blurted out, “Bail denied, Ms. Jones. You will be held in Dade County until your next court date.”

Asia freaked out. “Are you serious? Why? I need to get out of here.”

“And so does every other inmate who appears before me,” the judge shot back. “Do you have a criminal defense attorney?”

“No,” Asia mumbled.

“Well, a public defender will be assigned to your case.” At that moment, the judge saw one of the worst lawyers in the state of Florida walk into the courtroom. Once again, a smirk appeared on his face.

He never wins any of his cases. After what that bitch did to me he would be perfect to represent her , he thought to himself.

“Mr. Currie, are you representing anyone today?” the judge questioned before placing the piece of paper inside her folder.

The lawyer looked around surprised by the question. “Yes, but my next case isn’t until noon, Your Honor.”

“In that case, I’ll need you to represent Ms. Jones. We can deal with all the proper procedure paperwork later.” He pointed to Asia. “Please discuss these charges with her,” he said, holding up Asia’s file.

“Okay, Your Honor,” the lawyer replied with a puzzled look, but didn’t ask any questions.

The judge looked down at Asia. “Normally you get your court appointed attorney before your next court date, but I’ve decided to bend the rules a little and appoint one to you now. Besides, it looks like you’re really going to need it.”

Asia was shocked as the officer escorted her out of the courtroom and into a small back room. After sitting down, the lawyer introduced himself.

“Hello Ms. Jones, my name is Chris Currie and it looks like I’ve been assigned as your court appointed attorney.”

Asia shook his hand with her cuffs on. She looked the man up and down. Wearing a cheap, pin stripe suit, and black wire frame glasses, it looked like he was fresh out of law school. Still wet behind the ears.

I hope he knows what he’s doing. But then again who am I to be picky. It’s not like I can afford anybody else anyway , she thought.

“Okay, Ms. Jones, so…” the lawyer attempted to say.

“Wait, I have a question. Do you know if the judge has a wife?” Asia asked as she suddenly thought about her blackmail scheme. Even though her phone was also left inside the hotel, Asia thought it might’ve been someway her cell provider could retrieve the pictures. It was a long shot, but worth looking into.

“I’m not sure how that information is beneficial to your case Ms Jones.”

“It’s not, but since you’re my lawyer now I need you to do what I say,” Asia demanded.

The young attorney seemed intimidated. He stared at Asia before pushing up his glasses. “Judge Randolph’s wife died two years ago.”

Asia lowered her head once again. Every plan she had, seemed to fail.

“How the hell could he not give me a bail? Isn’t it something you can do? Are you going to be able to get me off on those charges?” she asked.

Chris looked through the file handed to him from the judge then grabbed a pen from his briefcase. “Well, Ms. Jones, it seems like you have a much bigger problem now.”

Asia sat up straight in the chair. “What are you talking about?”

“As you know when you were arrested and processed they took your fingerprints.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, it looks as if your fingerprints came back as a match to an ongoing murder investigation.”

Asia frowned. “Murder Investigation? What the hell are you talking about? No, Mr. Currie, I’m afraid you may have it all wrong. You heard the judge. I’m here for child abandonment, endangerment and neglect.”

“Yes, originally you were, but now it looks as if you might be facing a first or second degree murder charge.”

“Whoa, whoa, what the fuck did you just say?”

The lawyer paused, scratching his head. “Ms. Jones, it looks like your fingerprints were found at the scene of a murder for a…” He fumbled through the papers in front of him. “Yes, sorry about that… here we are, for a Keon Moore. He was found dead in his home almost a year ago.”