The story is set in the same near-future universe as my Penal Slavery series set in an alternate world where criminals are sentenced to terms of slavery rather than jail or prison per se. Because this is Literotica, there is a lot of sex. No rape or violence, reluctance at worst.
I thank those of you who will give the story a read. I value your feedback. Special thanks to fellow author Carl Bradford for his insightful comments. Look him up, you won't be disappointed.
If you enjoy this story, then try the Penal Slavery and Mom and Daughter Face Penal Slavery series, along with Office Servitude and Visit to the Lodge set in the same universe. Readers will see a character mentioned in both Office Servitude and Visit to the Lodge. While it would be helpful to read them, it is not at all necessary.
*
"The Court understands that the government and the defendant are proposing the following sentencing agreement. The defendant, having previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, will be subject to two years penal servitude with all but two months held in abeyance with resultant loss of all citizenship rights for the same period, commencing four months from acceptance of the plea and after the administration of five lashes to the back and buttocks only. The Defendant would report to the jail for administration of corporal punishment and processing. From there the state will agree to a private sale to the Harris Foundation, a charitable organization, and the Defendant will volunteer an additional 1500 hours of service to that organization after the end of her servitude,"
"That is the agreement your Honor, " confirmed the prosecutor and Lori's lawyer standing beside her. Just a few more minutes and she can go home and put this awful day in the many months of horrible days behind her. It had terrified her she and her husband Louis were charged in this state that practiced penal servitude rather than their former home in California. But this was where the elite college she and he had schemed to get their daughters admitted to was located.
When it became obvious that there was no way out, they sold their Hollywood home and moved here. Louis could run his software design firm from anywhere, and the college has allowed the girls to remain enrolled so long as they continue to meet academic standards.
It was a surprisingly straightforward decision. Her Hollywood career was in ruins. She had been told by her agent that she might have some options when everything blew over, but not to expect anything soon. If ever. At least she didn't drop her, Lori thought to herself. The judge resumed speaking.
"I have many, many letters of support from some rather famous people along with the humble apology of the defendant, all of which I find to be credible and sincere asking me to approve the agreement despite it being a sharp downward deviation from the guidelines. Ms. Palmer?"
This wasn't in the script, "Yes, your Honor?"
"Here you are an admired, successful, professional actor with a long-lasting marriage, two apparently healthy, resilient children, more money than you could possibly need, living in sunny Southern California -- a fairy tale life. Yet you stand before me a convicted felon. And for what? For the inexplicable desire to grasp even more. To have whatever prestige and instant gratification that comes from being able to show off the admission of your daughters to a preferred university."
Lori hung her head. He was right. She deserved this extra bit of humiliation. The judge continued.
"While this is punishment, It's not enough. I understand that the state's case had issues, which no doubt motivated such a generous offer. The fact remains that you and your husband elected to plead guilty. Those in the legal community understand. The public doesn't. The agreement is rejected. This also voids the plea agreement. Counsel, my chambers to discuss trial dates. Court stands in recess."
With that, the judge rose and strode from the bench.
"Lori, stay here. Let me find out what is going on, " her lawyer said before heading to the door the judge exited through.
Lori was stunned. She sank into her chair. She could hear the bailiffs firmly dissuading the relatively few reporters who attended the sentencing hearing from getting to her. For which she was thankful. She wished Louis was with her. His hearing was tomorrow, and he was frantically trying to wrap up his business affairs before he was unavailable for four months. The plan had been for him to serve his term immediately and she would do her time after him so at least one of them would be available to their children.
Fifteen minutes later the DA and her lawyer exited from chambers, both looking grim. He sat down next to her and leaned over, whispering.
"This is highly irregular. The judge told DA Geitner that he would not let the state save face for bringing a weak case this far. While he could understand not wanting to risk twenty years of enslavement, the fact remains that as far as he is concerned, it looks like the Court is allowing the wealthy and privileged to buy themselves out of the consequences of the same type actions that the state is saying is criminal,"
"If we go to trial and lose, we'll be enslaved till our seventies. You said an acquittal wasn't certain."
"Right. The judge offered an option. For both of you. Three years enslavement, all but one year held in abeyance. Ten lashes. Public sale subject to state reserve. Community service is the same. Imposition of sentence today."
"What about Louis? The girls?"
"Same deal as you. The judge was unimpressed by the argument that a parent had to be available to take care of a nineteen and a twenty-year-old. He did allow Louis to schedule his hearing in four months. His lawyer was there via telepresence."
Lori was in shock. How could this be happening, " No other options?" she managed to get out in a croaked whisper.
"No. If we do this, you would be just one of several auctioned today. You stand a lot less chance of spending your servitude owned by some stalker fan."
"Do we know what Louis thinks?"
Her lawyer looked at his wristcomp, "According to his lawyer, he is OK if you are,"
She took a deep breath, prayed for strength and nodded her head.
Her lawyer got up, walked to the prosecutor and whispered in his ear. Both nodded to the court clerk, who typed on her wristcomp.
As she had turned her eyes to follow her lawyer, she noticed out of the corner of her eye that the courtroom had almost emptied. Oddly, the two bailiffs were locking the doors. Walking back towards the bench the older of the two boomed out.
"ALL RISE,"
"Counsel, I believe you have something for me?"
"Yes, your Honor, your clerk was kind enough to print the revised agreement,"
The clerk handed a sheet of paper to the bailiff standing next to her who in turn walked it over to the DA, who looked at it, signed it and passed it to her lawyer, who scrutinized it, signed it and passed it to her. She glanced at it and signed it at the spot above her name and pushed it back to her lawyer, who handed it to the bailiff that Lori realized for the first time was standing behind her.
Lori watched the uniformed woman walk the paper that would soon change her world to the bench and hand it up to the judge.
"The defendant will stand."
Lori got to her feet. Her lawyer did the same. Looking down at the document, the judge spoke.
