#tw child abandonment
You’re a novice demon who managed to convice a mother to give up her first born in exchange for eternal youth. You did so, because it seems like the kind of thing all the other demons are doing, but now you are not sure what you are supposed to do with an infant and it’s way too late to ask.
“You could always eat it.”
Envy looked up in confusion.
“Sorry, what?”
Gluttony gestured to the infant nestled in Envy’s arms.
“I’ve had human before,” they said. “It’s not bad. Like pork. I bet a little one would be soft. Like veal.”
Gluttony ran their tongue over a set of rotten teeth. Gray and emaciated, they always had a pinched, hungry look about them.
“I could take it off your hands, if you want.”
Envy shrank back, cradling the infant a bit tighter.
“No,” they hissed. “This is mine, Gluttony.”
Gluttony chuckled.
“Suit yourself,” they said. “You were the one who asked what to do with it.”
Envy stalked off with the child, unsure where to go next. If this was the advice Gluttony had to give, imagine what Wrath would have to say. Or Lust. Envy shuddered.
But something even worse happened to Envy, instead.
They ran into Pride.
The Sentencing Briefs Have Been Filed!
Yesterday, both sides filed Sentencing Briefs—i.e., documents where they argue how long the sentence ought to be—in Josh’s case. Duggar Data tracked down a copy of the Prosecution’s filing (Strong TW—Graphic Description of CSAM), and is in the process of reading it. As of now, the Defense filing isn’t available to download on CourtListener, so I don’t have a copy of it yet.Edit 8:21 AM: Pickles posted it to her page. Here’s the link. I’m reading it now.
[Link to CourtListener for Josh’s Case, w/ PDFs of Multiple Court Filings]
C.C. McCandless, the reporter who gave us daily updates on the trial while it was unfolding, seems to have read both sides’ Sentencing Briefs. He gave a useful summary of each brief in two recent articles—one for each side.
Long story short… The Prosecution is asking for the maximum of 20 Years, which is apparently consistent with the Pre–Sentence Report (PSR)’s findings / recommendation. This means that, basically, the Prosecutor and Probation are both asking for the maximum. In their Sentencing Brief, the Prosecution argues that Josh’s behavior displays “a deep–seated, pervasive, and violent sexual interest in children.” They ask the Court to consider Josh’s molestation of his sisters in deciding his sentence, since those acts show a “pattern” of sexual misconduct involving children. They also argue that there is evidence that Josh distributed some of the CSAM via uTorrent, and (TW) that some of the CSAM depicted sadistic and violent abuse or abuse of an infant, and that the Court should apply enhancements based on those facts.
[Link to C.C.’s Summary of the Prosecution’s Sentencing Brief]
Meanwhile, and unsurprisingly, the Defense is asking for the minimum of 5 Years. The Defense characterizes this as a one–time thing, and mentions the “unique challenges” Josh has faced due to “being in the public spotlight since childhood.” They describe him as a “fully devoted” husband and father. They discuss many admirable thing he has allegedly done for the community… The type of stuff I’d expect from the Defense in a Sentencing Brief. One thing that struck me as odd, though, was that at one point they literally ask the Court for “mercy,” which seems… Really over–the–top. I’m a defense attorney, but that is weird even to me.
Anna and “other relatives” apparently submitted letters on Josh’s behalf.
[Link to C.C.’s Summary of the Defense’s Sentencing Brief]
Each Sentencing Brief is reportedly ~30 Pages.
Shout to C.C. McCandless, who has reported on the Duggar case so thoroughly. You’re the best!
