A Courtroom Massacre

by Mark Porto

  Johnny is still so discouraged about what happened with Doreen, he talks with about his lawsuit against the auto parts factory at her office. She wasn’t too busy, so told him about her brother, who had a promising career in business and it was cut short when he was accused of molesting a girl with whom he was acquainted.

  As she continues, tears stream down her face, “My family was lucky enough to have the money for a good attorney and fortunately, they caught the culprit. But, despite the apprehension of the perpetrator, there were people in the community who still believe my brother was guilty of a crime.” She blew her nose, “Excuse me,”

  Johnny expresses his sympathy for what happened asking her what her brother does for a living now.

  Mrs. Valentine explains despite the allegations, he was able to find work to get by. Luckily, he manages to get enough money to run his own business in Upstate New York. “Yet, it was that experiences that prodded me into the legal profession.”

  “What did you originally want to do for a living?”

  Georgia wanted to be an actress, she took up theater in college, but she admitted it was too hard for her to handle the numerous rejections and her father wanted her in a profession after she completed her studies. “He wasn’t going to pay out all that money to have me in a low paying job looking for acting jobs.”

  “May I ask a personal question?”

  She remarks with a chuckle, it was fine as long as it was not too personal.

  “Are you and your brother close?”

  She is distant, but not surly, “We see each other whenever possible; especially during the holidays. He makes a good ham.”

  Johnny asks if her brother had a lot of support from his family and friends during his ordeal. “I heard support helps.”

  She says that through her brother’s trials and tribulations, her parents and relatives gave him all the emotional support he needed. “God only knows he didn’t get any from his so called friends in town.” She stopped, because she felt the urge to cry come on her.

  Johnny says the only people who gave him any solace were his parents and a few friends. “Father Bryan, before I went to prison, told me, ‘put it behind you.’ The rest told me to ‘forget about it.’ I was having dinner last night, to make a long story short, there was a guy I knew from high school, I admit I didn’t know too well, we sat down and talked. Unfortunately, he disagreed with my actions; I was civil trying to explain what happened, but an argument erupted, so I took the initiative and left.

  Georgia recommends for his sake to get counseling right away.

  Johnny is told of bereavement counseling at the Black Meadows Community Center, he sits with various people who were casually dressed. The counselor sat down at the end of the circular table. On the walls in the room were various posters with telephone numbers for anyone who has problem varying from skin disease to AIDS, the AIDS poster was the most recent.

  Since the room was plain with a couple of windows, the people sat around until the counselor comes in, sitting down with a notepad dangling from his lap as he asks the panel if anyone felt angry about their experiences. All of them raise their hands; the counselor says the response was good.

  ”The point of these sessions is to make an attempt for everyone to vent their feeling, who wants to be first.” No one raises their hands, except Johnny, the counselor points to him and asks him to give his first name.

  Johnny tells his story about what happened to his fiancée, Doreen; gasps were heard, especially from the older members of the group. He finishes, “The judicial system, quite frankly doesn’t give a damn about how victims feel.” He concludes by discussion about suspects’ arraignments and how the judge dealt with them.

  While many of the people there were sympathetic and several empathize with his plight, but there was one man dressed in a bow tie with long hair down to his neck wearing thick eyeglasses frames, he feels Johnny should just accept it and put it behind him. “You must understand, this is the way things are run today and spitting in the establishment’s face won’t change things.”

  Johnny slumps in chair wearing a scowl. “Oh, really...” He suddenly sits up, “Let me ask you this, who the hell are you?”

  The man replies he was a psychologist. He felt this is the new society. “We are better off accepting it.

  “Sir, you’re an educated idiot.” The counselor was about to interrupt, Johnny took the floor. “I’ll tell you why you say that it’s because it works to your benefit. Look at it, there’s more crime, more victims, and more clients. Now, put that pipe in and smoke it.”

  The counselor calls for a time out asking Johnny what he thought people should do.

  Johnny sits straights telling the people there not to vote for people who are soft on crime, “Everyone, don’t swallow their schmoozing and election year rhetoric. You’ve got to put the pressure on them and press them for information. I understand that many people vote for a political party either because they have a job where the unions pressure them or it was the way your parents voted. Whatever you do, look at these people and read between the lines.”

  Dr. Harley, the counselor asks him if has done this, Johnny says he has, but it takes more than one person. When Dr. Harley asks the group what they thought of Johnny’s comments and suggestions; they remain silent as someone else got the floor.

  Johnny sits through the session hearing the discussion, but wasn’t receptive as his thoughts turn inward into a mental slumber, he never returned after that day.

  For a while, Johnny spends his time moping around the house, he couldn’t stop thinking of the days when he and Doreen would take strolls down the hill, near the beach where they would walk on summer days and kiss.

  Every other day, he cries just thinking about her until one day, he walks outside, because it was a nice day, to find his parents leaning against the car. His father holds an eleven month old Doberman who was on leash.

  Suddenly, the gloom which hovered over Johnny’s horizon quickly evaporated. He smiles, yet felt tears, looking at the animal, before rushing to pet the dog. “Pa, where did you get him?” He stands there petting the animal.

  His father says he saw the dog wandering around for a few days, when he got a chance to look at the collar and found a name, he went to the owner’s house, who said he could have him.

  Johnny thanks his parents, pets the dog all day long and decides later, after feeding him; he would take him for a walk.

  Johnny takes the dog for a walk almost every day for a month. One afternoon, when he was about to take the dog for a walk, a gray van pulled into the driveway. A burly man came out, wearing a gray uniform which enhances his belly that flapped over his belt. Johnny asks him who he was.

  “I’m the animal control officer, do you own this dog?”

  Johnny’s blood runs cold looking at the man’s earnest face, “Why do you want to know, is there a problem?”

  The officer puts his bulging left arm on top of the fence. “Well, we’ve a got a report you’ve been harboring an unlicensed dog, you know it can cost you a lot of money.”

  “Who filed the complaint?” He moves closer. “I demand to know why it was filed.”

  The animal control officer remarks he couldn’t give out that information. “I can tell you the councilman is putting a lot of pressure on me.”

  “Are you talking about Jeff McKinley, who used to represent this district, who’s now a councilor-at-large or Tyler Simpson?”

  The officer hems and haws, but admits it was Tyler Simpson.

  Suddenly, Sal had heard some talking, he came out and Johnny briefed him as what was going on with the dog warden. “What’s the problem he’s not bothering anybody.”

  The warden faces them saying there was a report the dog may have attacked a child, “Seriously, they could take the dog away from you.”

  Johnny asks him how long ago the alleged attack occurred.

  The warden states it occurred about a month ago, it occurred to Johnny ask him
why was the city was investigating this now. “Well, it took a little while to find the witnesses and the dog.”

  The color of Johnny’s face changes, “I’ve got news for you; no one is taking away my dog. And as far as I’m concerned, I don’t believe for one minute that any attack occurred. Councilman Simpson can take his political pressure and go straight to hell!”

  The man reiterates someone was probably putting pressure on the councilman to take away the dog for what reason, he didn’t know.

  Johnny says he’ll obtain a license for the dog; the warden thanked them and left.

  A couple of hours later, a police officer appear with five other officers and tells Johnny he has a warrant for his arrest. Johnny laughs, but his eyes shrunk. Sal came out and asks what was going on. Johnny demands to know why he and his father were being arrested. He asks why the need for six officers. The officer states they were being arrested and charged with harboring an unlicensed dog and obstruction of governmental administration for not reporting the dog bite.

  The dog warden was there to seize the dog.

  George Valentine agrees to represent Johnny and Sal at the arraignment, Judge Harold Hartnett presides asking for a plea; both men enter a not guilty plea.

  The city attorney, Mr. Thomas Padgett, Cecil’s son, argues that for the duration, the city is calling for the dog should be placed in a shelter. “Your honor, I have to be responsible for protecting the public. This dog could be potentially dangerous.”

  Ms. Valentine objects, stating if such a request was granted. “It will presume my clients are guilty without a trial, this is a miscarriage of justice!”

  Judge Hartnett sits staring at her, telling her to save the speeches for the trial, ordering the dog to remain in the custody of the warden, but allows Johnny and Sal Bellow to be released on $1,000 bail. The judge further states the city has talked with the child’s family who was bitten by the dog saying, “You either agree to have the dog labeled dangerous, or we’ll have a hearing, you’ll be able to call witnesses, cross examine and take the stand. I will determine what evidence is relevant and the penalties will be more severe.”

  Georgia has a conference with Johnny, “I’m going to be honest with you, I’ve dealt with this judge and he’s impossible, if he doesn’t like what you say, he’ll cut you off and threaten contempt charges, I know, because it’s happened to me.”

  Johnny says with confidence. “It’ll be a cold day in hell, before I allow this SOB from taking the dog away from me, go for the trial, I’ve got an idea.”

  Georgia has a harried look on her face; she tells the judge of Johnny’s wishes. The judge sets a date for the hearing.

  After he and his family left the courthouse, Johnny calls Ralph and asks him how much he knew about Tom Padgett. He explains the reason why Councilman Simpson is targeting him; Ralph says the Padgetts and the Lexingtons were related by blood. “Cecil’s sister is married to Judge Lexington. No one appreciated you filing a complaint him resulting in being censured.” Ralph pauses before Johnny responds, “Thomas Padgett is a very ambitious man, and he wants to be a judge. He will do anything to get it.”

  “What can do tell me about Judge Hartnett?” Johnny asks as Ralph hands him some information. He then slips it into his valise.

  About a week later, the hearing is held in the city courtroom. Johnny had told Georgia he wished to represent himself, but wants her there as an adviser, since she was interested in how the city of Black Meadows operated.

  Judge Hartnett presides over the hearing and calls the city attorney for a brief opening statement. Tom Padgett states Mr. Bellow’s dog has become a nuisance to the citizens of this city by biting a five-year-old child, causing some injury. “Since it’s my obligation to protect the public, I will prove this dog doesn’t belong in any household.”

  Johnny issues his opening statement, “Your honor, even if my dog bit anyone and I’m not saying he did, everyone, whether human or animal, is entitled to a second chance. I will prove my dog wasn’t involved in this unfortunate mishap.”

  The judge instructs to call his first witness, the city attorney, calls Mrs. Diane Bouchard. Mr. Padgett asks her to describe the day her daughter was attacked. Mrs. Bouchard says she had taken her daughter into Eastway Park, about six weeks when this large dog came by. “My daughter loves dogs, so asks me if she could pet the dog, I was hesitant at first, but allowed her to pet the dog. When she did, the dog bit her, causing damage to her face and hand.”

  Padgett asks, “Did you take her to the hospital?”

  Mrs. Bouchard says, “Luckily, the facial and hand injuries didn’t go beyond stitches.”

  “Is your daughter frightened of dogs?” Padgett asks Mrs. Bouchard. While she says her daughter isn’t frightened of dogs, she does have psychological problems as a result. When the city attorney asks what they were, Mrs. Bouchard would only say she has problems playing in the park. The city attorney looks to Johnny, “Your witness.”

  Johnny sits at the defense with the microphone turned down, “Mrs. Bouchard, if this incident occurred six weeks, why are we here today?”

  She didn’t understand the question and the city attorney objected, but Johnny quickly asserted since the incident occurred then, when wasn’t he appraised of it until a couple of weeks ago. The city attorney withdrew the objection and Johnny made it clear why it took her four weeks to report the incident. “Well, there was an illness in family and I lost tract.”

  “Really, if it was my daughter, I would’ve reported it right away. Did you know the license number of the dog who bit her?”

  Mrs. Bouchard says while she stopped the dog from doing further damage, the license tag, fell and she picked it up and put it in her pocket. “I also included the license number in my deposition.” Johnny pulls out a copy asking the judge for permission to approach, which the judge grants.

  Johnny walks up to her showing her the license tag, his dog had when the Bellow first obtained the dog. He presents the tag to her asking which tag she got. When she said she didn’t remember that tag, he asks, “Madam, what’s going on here? You claim my dog bit your daughter six weeks ago, yet I’m being the one prosecuted.”

  When the city attorney objects, the judge says to Johnny he’s not going there. Johnny, however, says if my dog didn’t bite anybody, why he is being prosecuted. He further accuses the city attorney of bringing a false case against him. The judge yells and demands he retreats from this line of questioning. Johnny tells him there is something wrong when he proves his dog wasn’t at fault and maybe Mrs. Bouchard was mistaken; he has the right to know why he is being targeted.

  Judge Hartnett warns him that he will hold in contempt if he doesn’t cease discussing the discrepancies. “Mrs. Bouchard is here in good faith.”

  Johnny yells, “Go ahead put me in contempt.” There’s a gasp by the few spectators in the courtroom, “But, I want a contempt hearing, which is required under state law. I’m going to put you on a witness stand and you’re going to have to explain your actions. I will not be bamboozled by this city government.”

  The judge says he was going to hold in contempt, without the hearing. Johnny rebuts saying if he did, he would report him to the Committee on Judicial Conduct. Judge Hartnett freezes at the sound of the words leaning back in his chair. “Mr. Bellow, I don’t like it when people who disregard the decorum of a courtroom. So far, you’d ignored my wishes and proceed to threaten my job. I don’t know what you seek to accomplish with this outburst. I’m going to rule that your dog be declared dangerous, which means your dog whenever he goes on a walk must be muzzled; the dog must be secure on your property so he can’t escape, I’m also mandating you keep liability insurance.”

  Johnny turns to Georgia, asking her to appeal his ruling, “This man has sealed his political doom.”

  “Do you really think it was wise to challenge him?” Georgia says as they walk out the courtroom. “I understand the judge was being mulish, but your actions were not advisable.”


  Johnny tells her, “Hold it a minute, there’s more to it than that. If the woman didn’t recognize the license tag which was linked to my dog and yet the judge insists my dog is guilty, my best estimate is that he’s involved with this little charade. I’ll make you this promise; I’m going to make sure this judge is removed from office.”

  Georgia says she understands his sentiments, but says the chances of his removal are not very big. “Do you know how many complaints are filed against judges on a yearly basis, yet a small fraction is ever disciplined.”

  Johnny takes a Manila envelope to mail the complaint as Georgia files an appeal.

  That night, Carl Lucero is drinking in a strip point, amid loud disco and rock music, he watches women dance, wearing G-strings, along a pole or they would bump and grind or strip on stage.

  There is one woman on stage he found attractive, he perpetually puts dollar bills in her garter belt. Her smile outmatches the flashing colors which soak the room. When she finishes her gig, she steps down to the tables, when Carl stands to ask her for a date, she tells him to buzz off and Carl’s eyes are red and bloodshot.

  He follows her down a brightly lit street; taking out a cigarette and smokes rings.

  The stripper tries to lose him by running into a seedy bar on Spencer Street. When Lucero enters, he approaches while grabbing her by the arm. His eyes blazes at her rough, but timid face barking no woman ever turns him down.

  Her boyfriend, however, steps in with a few friends, asking him politely to leave. When Lucero said he was in prison and not afraid of his friends, the boyfriend says he could leave either voluntarily or in a stretcher.

  Lucero pulls out a switchblade from his leather jacket pocket, but the boyfriend pulls out a pistol from his jacket with a smile. Although Lucero is tempted to strike, especially when his eyes continue blazing, he decides to leave the bar. When he gets out, he smokes another cigarette.