Chapter 17 - The preliminary hearing
The first major hearing focused on whether the state had enough evidence to proceed on the most serious counts.
I testified.
Not in uniform.
Dark suit.
No medals.
No general-officer entourage inside courtroom.
“Did Sheriff Reed point a firearm at you?”
“Yes.”
“Did you threaten him?”
“No.”
“Did you refuse to identify yourself?”
“He knew who I was. If you mean provide credentials, he never asked before drawing his weapon.”
“Did he tell you you were under arrest?”
“He said I was committing federal impersonation.”
“Did he state an arrest basis?”
“Not beyond that.”
Then defense.
“You refused to explain the secure device.”
“Yes.”
“You told Sheriff Reed it was none of his business.”
“Yes.”
“You were aware impersonating federal officials can be a crime.”
“Yes.”
“You expected him simply to accept your word?”
“No. I expected him to use the verification he had already received.”
There.
Then fusion-center liaison testified.
Confirmed message.
Receipt.
Then military liaison.
Confirmed phone call.
Then Tyler.
He testified to recording.
His voice shook.
Daniel stared at him.
Tyler looked at prosecutor instead.
Then Chief Deputy Brooks.
The prosecutor displayed Daniel’s message:
Need county IT to clean up my query logs before this gets misunderstood.
Brooks said:
“I interpreted it as a request that could compromise records, so I locked access and notified counsel.”
Defense:
“Did Sheriff Reed explicitly say delete?”
“No.”
“Alter?”
“No.”
“Destroy?”
“No.”
Good.
That count remained weaker.
Judge bound over:
Firearm-related assault/menacing.
Unlawful restraint.
Official misconduct.
Database misuse counts.
May you like
The attempted-tampering theory also survived initially but judge noted it would depend on proof of intent.
Main case remained alive.
