chapter 2 - trial and conviction

Mia sat in disbelief in the back of the patrol car for the short ride to the police station. They drove through a forest down into a valley and turned onto what must have been Mount Isley’s main street. The officer pulled up in front of the town’s city hall, got out, opened Mia’s door and ordered her out.

Once they were inside, he took the cuffs off of Mia and pointed to a bench at the front. “Sit there while we get ready for your trial”.

She looked at him in disbelief, “My trial?? It is 2:00 AM in the morning.”

“Just sit down.”

Mia did as she was told and sat down on the bench. The officer set down at a desk across from her, picked up the phone and made a call.

“I am sorry to call you so late your honor, but you told me anytime we had a code 1604 violation to call you immediately day or night.”

“Yes, your honor.”

“Yes, your honor.”

“Her name is Mia Anderson, age 21 with a Minnesota ID.”

“Yes, your honor.”

“She is 5’5 and about 175.”

“No, your honor.”

“No, your honor, no visible scars or stretch marks.”

“Yes, your honor. I would describe her as kind of a pear shape.”

Mia looked at him with a puzzled look.

“Yes, your honor. Praise him!”

The officer hung up the phone. “Are you willing to sign a confession?”

“No, I am not signing a confession. I want a lawyer. I have a right to a lawyer.”, Mia replied.

“You will get an attorney.”

“I want a phone call.”, Mia exclaimed.

“You don’t get one. The judge and your attorney will be here soon. “

A few minutes later a truck pulled up. A middle-aged man wearing boots, jeans and a tight western shirt stepped out. When he walked in the officer addressed him as judge.

“Thank you for coming Judge Parsons.”, the officer said.

The judge looked down at Mia, “Well, let’s get this over with.” The judge opened a door under the court room sign and went in.

The officer turned to Mia, “I am your lawyer.”

“No, I have rights, you can’t do this.”

The officer grabbed her by her arm and drug her into the court room. The court room was nothing more than some folding chairs and a desk in front. Sitting on the desk, rather than behind it, was the judge. The officer drug Mia to the front of the court room and stood next to her.

“Court is now in session.”

“Mia Anderson, you are charged with illegal possession of amphetamine weight loss pills in Mount Isley, how do you plead?” The judge sternly asked Mia.

“What law have I violated, it’s a legal prescription for me?” Mia asked.

“It is amphetamines prescribed for weight loss and in Mount Isley it is illegal for a woman to have in her possession any medication that can either induce or assist in weight loss. So how do you plead?”, the judge sternly replied.

“How can you have a law like that? Uh, how is that even like, you know constitutional?”, Mia asked exasperated.

The looked her right in the eye, “Let me tell you something. Our laws, just like our constitution, are based in God’s law! The Lord said:

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus.”

Do you know what that means? I will tell you what it means. If you take man’s pills to lose weight, you are going against God. If God wanted you thin, he would have made you thin. Did you or did you not tell officer Johnson here that you have a hard time losing weight?”

Mia just looked at him in disbelief.

“Well did you?”

Mia finally replied, “I guess.”

The judge continued, “Because God did not make you to be thin and in this God-fearing town, our laws enforce God’s will.”

The officer turned to Mia, “Judge Parsons should know because he is also our pastor.”

The judge looked down at Mia, “Therefore, Mia Anderson, I find you guilty and hereby order that you are remanded into special custody until this court finds that you have been sufficiently rehabilitated.”