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Nina
And
The Pernicious Professor
By
“Prey4Me”
Epilogue B
(#4 of Four Parts)
By “Prey4Me”
“Will the prisoner stand.”
It was phrased as an interrogative, but it was actually an order. Mark Smith, no longer a proffessor of mathematics, stripped of rank and tenure, and wearing an orange jump suit, rose to his feet.
“The Bailiff will secure the prisoner.”
This procedure came as no surprise. It was not necessary to safeguard a prisoner from escape, as there were several police and court officers present. It was a symbolic act. A uniformed Bailiff came forward, and placed handcuffs on Prisoner Smith’s wrists, securing them to a waist chain. He then knelt and affixed set of leg irons to his ankles. Distinct “clicks” could be heard throughout that the entire, hushed courtroom.
“Does the prisoner have anything to say before sentencing?”
“Yes, your honor, I want to thank the court and my attorney for the speedy dispatch of these painful judicial proceedings. I have already made explicit my apologies and my regrets to the victim, for whom I have the utmost respect and affection. I further apologize to my wife and beg her forgiveness, and hope that in some way she can manage with my children in my absence. I also extend my regrets and apologies to the University, to my peers, and to the Math Department for the shame I have brought upon them.”
“Mark Smith, in addition to violating the victim’s person—a victim who was so perfectly innocent in every sense of the word—you have seriously disgraced your position as professor, scandalized your academic community, and transgressed your academic ethics. You have irrevocably violated your position and trust as citizen, teacher, husband, and father. And, you have proven yourself to be a cynical, evil, and pernicious person. In spite of your pronounced regrets and apologies, this Court finds no redeeming virtue in you and can discern no reason for mercy or leniency. You are a distinct danger to society. Further, this Court regards the deterrence of other, similarly inclined fiends as an essential part of its mandate.
“Mark Smith, you have been found guilty of three counts of Aggravated Rape. One of these counts involved the secondary aspect of ‘Unnatural Acts.” For each of these counts, you are hereby sentenced to fifteen years in the state penitentiary.
“Mark Smith, you have further been found guilty of three counts of sexual Assault and Battery. For each of these, you are sentenced to three years in the state penitentiary.
“Mark Smith, you have further been found guilty of two counts of simple Assault and Battery. For each of these, you are sentenced to two years in the state penitentiary.
“Mark Smith, you have further been found guilty of Kidnapping, Third-Degree, to wit, forcing the involuntary confinement of the victim. For this, you are sentenced to one year in the state penitentiary.
“Mark Smith, you have further been found guilty of Tampering of a Witness, to wit, offering compensation and/or benefit to the victim in exchange for her declination of testimony. For this, you are sentenced to one year in the state penitentiary.
“The sentences for Assault and Battery, Kidnapping, and Intimidation of a Witness, in and of themselves, are to be served concurrently, but only at the conclusion of the serving of the sentences for Aggravated Rape.
“The three sentences for the three counts of Aggravated Rape, fifteen years each, require an absolute minimum of ten years served before there is any eligibility for parole, probation or “good time.” They are to be served prior to the other sentences.
“Each of the three sentences for Aggravated Rape is each to be served consecutively.”
“The Bailiff will remand the prisoner forthwith to the Warden of the State Penitentiary for the execution of sentence.
“This Court is adjourned.”
A gavel hit the desk with a loud, resounding crack.
“Court is adjourned! All rise!”
The End
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