RATING: G
CONTENT: A little angst maybe, that's all.
SPOILER WARNINGS: For Becoming, of course
SUMMARY: Willow gets a letter from Buffy
PREREQUISITE DISCLAIMER: None of these characters belong to me. They all belong to Mutant Enemy (argh) Productions. This is an work of idle fantasy and I'm not making any cash off this thing (which is kinda sad) and thereby ask and beg no one to sue me. It's an act of futility.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: All of the legal babble and numbers of the criminal code come from the Canadian legal system, not the Californian. I would guess that Californian law is pretty similar to Canadian law, but may be totally wrong. Please read this with that in mind.
*****
Chase, Brendicoff and Associates,
Attorneys at Law.
July 16th, 1998
Our File: 6607/MN
PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
Miss Willow Rosenburg
1482 Gregory Avenue
Sunnydale, CA
92254
Dear Miss Rosenburg:
Re: State of California v. Buffy Monica Summers
October 9th, 1998 2:00 p.m., #446
I enclose herewith a photostatic copy of the particulars.
I confirm that further to the attendance of Miss Summers to our office that I will be conducting the defense of Miss Summers’ charges on the above noted date.
I would ask that you please give consideration to calling character witnesses and provide me with the names, telephone numbers and addresses of potential witnesses who may be able to vouch for Miss Summers’ good character in court.
I would like to advise you at this time that the services of this office would normally come to a total of $10 000, but I have been advised that you have come to an alternate form of payment via my daughter.
I can only stress at this time that it would be in the best interest of all parties concerned for Miss Summers to turn herself in to the police. Her continued absence to the authorities will only aggravate the issue, and should she not appear by the date above, will have further charges allayed against her.
Yours truly,
Benton Chase
Benton W.D. Chase
RG/jd
*****
Upon speaking to members of the Sunnydale police force (more specifically, Det. Stein) I would advise that the following charges have been laid against Miss Summers:
Assault with intent to resist arrest -- section 270 (1)(b)
On the night of May 19th, 1998, at 10:30 p.m. in the front Hallway of Sunnydale High School, Buffy Summers did assault with intent to resist arrest Officer Paul Hernandez. Officer Hernandez suffered non critical injuries to the head and chest and was incapacitated, allowing Miss Summers to flee.
I advise that after contact with the District Attorney for Sunnydale, the above charge was reduced to a misdemeanor with the agreement that other charges against Miss Summers be dropped, and that Miss Summers serve a term not to exceed three (3) months in a youth facility, and an additional six months of parole. This agreement is only affective should Miss Summers agree to it, and should she present herself to the Sunnydale Police Department before the date of October 8, 1998. If she should not agree to this plea bargain, or should she fail to appear, she will be charged with the following charges:
Assault with intent to resist Arrest – section 270 (1)(b) (Two counts)
Both of these counts will be felony charges, and present a minimum sentence upon conviction of six months each, and a maximum sentence of 10 years each.
Failure to appear or to comply with summons – section 145(4)
This is a felony charge and carries a minimum sentence upon conviction of six months and a maximum sentence of 10 years.
I advise you that the District Attorney has stated his intention to prosecute Miss Summers’ case to the full extent of the law, and that he intends to try Miss Summers in an adult court. I also advise that he has stated a desire to have Miss Summers’ serve her sentences consecutively. This means that upon conviction, Miss Summers will face up to 30 years in prison.
I also advise you that should Miss Summers appear before the police by October 8th and agree to this plea bargain, she will also be asked to give information to the police regarding the murder of Kendra Livingston. If information she gives leads to an arrest and conviction, the charges against Miss Summers may be dropped entirely.
I strongly advise Miss Summers, should you come in contact with her, to accept the terms of this plea bargain. It was not easy to come by and it is highly unlikely that the District Attorney will feel as generous in the future.
Should Miss Summers fail to appear by October 8th, or not agree to the above plea bargain, I will continue to represent her in court, however the subject of additional fees will have to be addressed at that time.
*****
[Personal Note, attached]
Young lady, I greatly admire the distance you are going to help your friend. I have to tell you, however that she is in a great deal of trouble. This has not been helped by her absence, previous record and by the lethal character reference given by her principal. I want you to know that I did this for you as a service to my daughter (to whom I seem to be unable to say no to), and cashed in a great number of personal favours to make this very generous plea bargain happen. Miss Summers will not get a more generous offer with any other attorney at any other time. I am of course anxious about my daughter associating with the likes of Miss Summers, but have always been unable to control her or who she associates with. I am also concerned for your being involved with this, and give you my personal condolences for the injuries you have received in association with this horrible attack.
[Signed] Benton Chase