The Judge banged the gavel, making me shiver. My Dad and my lawyer wanted me to plead guilty and take a plea deal. I guess they were right, hell I was caught red handed, plus it was all captured on a surveillance camera!
"The State of Missouri vs Miss Nikki Belmont case #7632-15-19-2019," the Judge stated. "I understand there has been a plea agreement, is that correct Mr. District Attorney?"
"Yes Sir, Your Honor," replied the DA.
"Is that true Miss Belmont? And stand when I'm talking to you young lady," growled the Judge.
Standing on shaky legs I stammered, "Yes.. Sir."
The Judge had a frown on his face, then asked the DA and my attorney Mr. Sanders to approach the bench. I couldn't hear what was being said, but I could see the Judge's face and he looked like he was not happy. Finally my attorney and the DA resumed their seats.
I was trying to find out what was going on from my attorney when he sat down, but he just shushed me.
"QUIET," as the Judge banged the gavel. "I am not satisfied at all with this plea agreement. The record shows the defendant just turned 18 a month ago, and barely has enough credits to qualify as a 10th grader. You have been caught performing sex acts during school hours, and this is the 3rd time you have been arrested for stealing. It would not be fair to the State of Missouri or you, that I let you off with a three year suspended sentence and one year probation. You appear to have no regard for rules or the law. We will adjourn for 30 minutes, and your attorney can explain your options Miss Belmont," as he banged his gavel.
Now I was scared shitless! Before I always got probation, and what the hell, so I gave a few blow jobs in the gym or bathroom. My parents were in the room with me, as Mr. Sanders apologized for not being able to get Judge Nichols to accept the plea deal.
"The Judge is going to make us go to trial, which means if found guilty Nikki you would be sentenced to 10 years in the Women's Correctional Center in Vandalia, Missouri, or....." said Mr. Sanders
I didn't hear him after that because my mom was wailing and crying, and I was about to shit myself! My Dad was trying to calm mother down and I just sat there dumbfounded.
"Please... listen and let me explain the option he offered," said Mr. Sanders.
"If you were to get sentenced to 10 years, you would be eligible for parole after 6 years with good behavior. The other option is, if you plea guilty, he is going to sentence you to a private correctional facility in Springfield, Missouri called Harrison Correctional Facility for Young Women. There you would attend classes and earn credits to get a high school diploma, plus a regular work schedule. If you complete the requirements for your diploma you will be released as time served. Which means you could be out a couple years if you apply yourself."
Mr. Sanders," my mom cried, "are there no other options?"
"I am afraid not Mrs. Belmont."
"Would we be able to visit her," Dad asked?
"That's the other thing," frowned Mr. Sanders, "the only communication allowed is by mail. Nikki would be able to write, or I should say will be required to write you once a week. Also, Nikki you need to understand if you accept this offer and then cause more problems while your serving your sentence, the Judge will be notified, and he can have you transferred to Vandalia to serve the full 10 years. You have to be on your best behavior."
Retuning to the court room, I knew we really didn't have an option, my ass was headed to Springfield, Missouri.
"Has the defendant made a decision Mr. Sanders," smirked Judge Nichols.
"Yes your Honor, she pleads guilty and kindly accepts your offer."
"Please stand Miss Belmont for sentencing," he growled as I stood.
"Miss Belmont, I hope I am not making a mistake giving you this option, but fair warning, I will transfer you to Vandalia so fast it'll make your head spin, if you disappoint me. I am going to give you 48 hours to spend with your family, then you are to report here at 8 a.m. Friday morning. Bring nothing with you, all you need are the clothes on your back, everything else you need will be provided."
I didn't even hear him read the sentence or bang his gavel saying court dismissed.
Mom was hugging me and still crying as Dad led us outside to the car. I just stared out the window at people going about their business happy and carefree, on the drive home. "You really fucked up this time," I told myself, thinking why in the hell did I steal that damn bracelet! Oh yeah, on a stupid dare from Susie!
I raced upstairs to my room as soon as we got home, and shut and locked my door.
I always made good grades until I entered Jr. High, then got in with the wrong crowd and started skipping classes. All the cool kids were smoking pot, pulling pranks on teachers and stealing shit just for the fun of it. I caught Susie giving her boyfriend a blow job behind the school during a school dance. She just laughed and said I should try it, so when my boyfriend was trying to get in my pants I gave it a try. Hell, at least I couldn't get pregnant.
Laying in bed I thought about all the crap I had done, and decided I would somehow get through this and turn my life around. If I applied myself I could get enough credits in 2 years and get released, and maybe go on to college. I was just getting out of my dress clothes that I wore to court when Dad knocked on my door.
"Honey, are you okay?" he asked.
"Yeah Dad, I'm changing clothes and I be down in a minute," I shouted.
That night we ordered food out and discussed what I was facing. Mom did her best to not start crying again, and I think she felt better when I told her I was going to really apply myself and get my diploma early. She cooked my favorite meal that last night, meatloaf, green beans and mashed potatoes. But the next morning at 6:30 a.m. when I came downstairs she had fixed a large breakfast, and I was only able to choke down a few bites. I was too nervous to eat. Dressed in jeans and a pink blouse we headed for the courthouse, now I had tears in my eyes as I spotted a school bus picking up kids, wishing that was me getting on the yellow bus.
Reaching the courthouse Dad had to pry moms arms from around me so I could report inside. As I reached the door, I looked back at my parents, Dad even had tears rolling down his face as he held mom, "Love you guys," I shouted as I went inside.
I was loaded in a mini bus that had HCF painted on the side, the driver was separated from the passenger area by a wire cage and door. There were enough seats for ten to sit, and the windows had bars over them, even the glass in the rear door. The driver looked to be about 40-45 years old, dressed like a police officer except on the front pocket of his shirt was a HCF emblem. He had a gun strapped to his right hip and as he pointed to the back he told me, "Your my first pick up today, so just pick any seat and buckle up."
"Yes Sir," I said, as I figured it best to start off polite.
I picked a seat in the very rear, and after a few minutes closed my eyes and dozed off. I was having a wonderful dream about hanging out with my friends at the bowling alley, when the mini bus came to a stop and jarred me awake.
"Just sit tight, I'll be right back," the driver mumbled as he exited the vehicle.
Looking around we were parked at a police station. In just a few minutes he and a police officer returned with three girls in hand cuffs. Two of the girls appeared to be about my age and were meekly entering the bus, but the third girl was scowling and told the police officer, "Don't rush me asshole!"
"The driver just shook his head and pointed to the back of the bus, as the police officer said, "Afraid your going to have trouble with that one."
"She won't be a problem," the driver smiled, as he walked in the back of the bus. The first two girls had grabbed seats together and were trying to buckle up, but were having trouble with the cuffs. The driver stopped in front of them and removed their handcuffs and told them nicely to buckle up.
The third girl sneered at him and told him she didn't need no damn seat belt. She had sat down right in front of me, and before you could blink, the driver zapped her with a stun gun, incapacitating her. He quickly pulled her handcuffed hands up and used another pair of cuffs to chain her to metal rod that ran across the ceiling, then buckled her in the seat belt. Without saying a word he returned to the front and locked the cage door, as the police officer laughed his ass off.
I was not about to say a word, obviously the driver was not someone you wanted to fuck with. The trouble maker was groaning as she came to her senses, and realized her arms were trapped above her head, and there wasn't a damn thing she could do.
No body on the bus said a word. Even the trouble maker was keeping quiet, except when she groaned, I'm sure because her arms were aching from being held above her head.
Around 1 pm we pulled down this long gravel road for about a mile, when through the trees I could see a chain link fence with razor wire along the top. A guard shack was located next to a gate and a guard dressed like the driver came out and opened the gate, motioning the driver on thru. Fifty yards up the road we entered a large clearing and there were several buildings, off to the far right were was a field with 20 girls in orange jumpsuits running around a track as a guard watched.
Finally the bus stopped in front of a two story building and a female guard was standing on the front steps. The sign above the entrance said 'REGISTRATION.' The driver opened the cage door and told us to unload, which three of us didn't hesitate. The female pointed to a spot in front of her and shouted, "Line up here girls and keep quiet until I say other wise."
The driver removed troublemaker but left her cuffed, as he placed her in line with us. The female guard stepped forward as the driver handed her some paperwork.