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The trial began the first week in September. The crowded courtroom was sweltering, in spite of the fans that had been placed around the room.
The bailiff called the room to order. “Please stand for the Honorable Judge Walter H. Dexter.”
As everyone complied Jesse took Katy’s hand and squeezed it. “Here we go. Are you ready?”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. I just want it over quickly.”
Brice glared at them from the defendant’s table where he was seated with his lawyer. Max Sawyer, was a tall man with thinning hair and a very nice suit. Sawyer shuffled papers he drew out of the folders in front of him.
“He looks like he eats little children for breakfast,” Katy said, holding onto Jesse and shaking visibly.
The two attorneys talked to the crowd summarizing the charges and explaining what they thought had happened and what they wanted to prove. Then witnesses were called for both sides to give their testimony. Each attorney had a chance to question them. As time passed Katy became less anxious.
"Do you swear to tell the truth..." Preceded each new witness, and then Jesse was called.
“Jesse, did you have an altercation on March 14th, with the defendant?"
"Yes, sir."
"Was it over some comments he made to Katy Hailey?” Mr. Coffee asked.
“Yes, sir. It was.”
“Can you briefly describe the events leading up to that incident?”
“Objection,” Sawyer shouted. “The question is not relevant."
“On the contrary, I'm laying a foundation for what happened later, Your Honor. And it will show that the defendant had a prior run in with Miss Hailey and Mr. Sullivan, which led to the evening in question.”
“I’ll allow it,” the judge said.
“A bunch of us... well, 3 couples met up to go to the movies in Arcadia. Brice was making fun of my date and being crude. He was saying awful things about the girl I was with.”
“Who was that girl you were with, Jesse?”
“Katy Hailey, sir.”
“What kind of things was he saying?”
“Do I have to say?”
“Yes, I think the jury needs to know.”
Jesse repeated the insults and insinuations that Brice had made that night.
“How did you react to this?”
“I hit him and knocked him down. I told him to never speak to her like that again.”
“What did you do after that?”
“Katy and I got in my truck and left.”
“Jesse, did Brice say anything after you hit him and when you were leaving?”
“He said he would get even. That no one hits him and gets away with it.”
“Did you take his threat seriously?” Coffee asked.
“You bet I did. We all did. I felt like I had a target on my back.
"I have no more questions of this witness, Your Honor."
The defense attorney got up from his chair and went to stand in front of Jesse.
“Jesse, were any of the supposed accusations true?”
“No, of course not,” Jesse raised his voice. “He didn't know her. He'd never met Katy before that night.”
"Just answer the questions 'yes' or 'no'."
“Did Miss Hailey have a reputation at school that would make him think that she was what he called her?” Sawyer asked.
“No."
"Is there a chance that you just didn't hear of her reputation?"
"No. She didn’t even go to our school.”
"I have no more questions at this time, Your Honor, but I reserve the right to call him again."
Jesse returned to his seat beside Katy.
“You should see the faces of the jury! I don’t think they like Brice right now,” Katy whispered.
Janice was called next.
"Please state your name for the court," Coffee began.
ADA Coffee was gentle but thorough in his questioning. Janice broke down several times during her questioning. Through her tears she was able to give her account of the rape. Sawyer was less gentle. He took aim and tried to make it seem that she had consensual sex with Brice.
“No! I didn’t! Are you saying I volunteered to get beat up and raped!”
"Oh, my gosh, Jessie. He is being so hard on her," Katy said, as she twisted and untwisted her handkerchief.
“Why didn’t you come forward after the attack?” Sawyer asked, turning smugly to the jury.
“I was embarrassed. I didn't want people to know! What would they think? What would they say?”
"Isn't it true you wanted Brice Buchlund, the rich boy at school? If you got pregnant you'd marry all that money. Isn't that true?"
"I object, Your Honor." Coffee jumped out of his chair. "He's badgering the witness."
"Mr. Sawyer, you know better," Judge Dexter rebuked him.
Mr. Coffee called Cora to testify to the bruises Janice received and her refusal to return to school and facing Brice.
"Please tell the jury what you saw when you visited Janice's house that day."
“She was terrified of Brice,” she began.
Hank was called to substantiate what the girls had claimed at that time.
Mr. Coffee asked each witness what Brice was like in school. How he acted afterwards. Why they felt he had no remorse?
“Brice was bragging to all his friends. He likes hurting girls!” Hank said, jumping to his feet and pointing directly at Brice.
There was an audible gasp heard around the courtroom followed by murmuring.
"Order in the court." Dexter rapped his gavel.
"Objection!" Sawyer shouted. "It calls for speculation."
"The jury is directed to disregard that statement." Dexter ordered.
Coffee was pleased. He knew the jury wouldn't forget the energy leading to that dramatic moment.
Katy walked to the witness box, visibly shaking. She tried to keep her head clear, after all, the trial was about her standing up to Brice. She was doing this for all the girls he hurt and to prevent him from ever doing it again. He had to be held accountable for all the hurting. Being brave was new to her, but she gained strength from Jesse, and she would not let him down.
"State your name for the court, please." Coffee said.
"Katherine Marie Hailey."
She gave them details, told the truth, and only few tears moistened her cheek. She held her head high. The defense attorney could not deny that her testimony would bury his client.
When she finished, she walked steadily back to Jesse; all fear was gone and she felt more confident.
Jesse squeezed her hand as she sat down beside him. He leaned over and whispered, “I’m so proud of you.”
Malinda, sitting behind her, leaned forward and patted her on the back. Doris and Ted smiled at her and she could read the pride in their eyes, and she peeked at Jim, who beamed proudly.
The trial took three days, but the jury was only out an hour. Everyone was called back into the court room.
"All rise... this court is now in session. The Honorable Walter H. Dexter presiding." the bailiff called. The calling of the jury brought everyone to their feet again.
“The defendant will rise and face the jury,” Judge Dexter ordered.
Brice stood with his attorney. Mr. Buchlund sat in the crowd. The foreman handed the verdict to the bailiff, who handed it to the judge, who read it and handed it back.
“Men and women of the jury, how do you find?”
The courtroom went so still only the oscillating fans could be heard.
“We the members of the jury," said the jury foreman, "find the defendant guilty of assault and attempted rape.”
“Thank you, ladies and gentlemen of the jury. You are dismissed,” Judge Dexter decreed. “We will meet back here tomorrow morning at nine am when I will pronounce sentence.”
The courtroom came alive with jubilation; girls crying with joy and congratulating one another. Jim Hailey clapped Coffee on the back and thanked him twice, and then was completely at a loss for words. Malinda hugged Katy. Janice wept but the smile never left her face. Hank hugged Cora and shook his fists in the air in triumph.
Only Mr. Sawyer saw the reaction on the face of his client. Brice did not react at first then turned to his attorney.
"I will find you one day when you least expect it and on that day you will die." He spoke so softly that even his father didn't hear him. The older Bachlund sat behind him in the courtroom, with his hands covering his face, rocked back and forth asking, my God, how did this happen?
