Sentence

Today is finally over! Whew! Thanks so much for all the good thoughts. It made such a difference and really got me through the day. Long story short, because I am so exhausted I can barely see straight: The guy was already on parole for an incredibly violent senseless crime, under investigation for another homicide, with a history of assaultive behavior over the last twenty years. He was convicted of arson in a trial last week, a very hard-fought and draining trial that left me concerned for the safety of my witnesses, not to mention my own. We had a punishment hearing today, another stressful ordeal in which I argued harder than I have for a long time that someone should go to prison for a very, very long time. The guy was sentenced to 25 years. I'd like to say that's the end of it, but I doubt it is. He's one of those rare crooks that takes it personally, and most of his criminal history has been motivated almost exclusively by vendetta. So I close the file. And I watch my back.