TRIGGER WARNING! S/A
Location: TN, USA
I (22F), was a victim of repeated sexual battery by my best friend’s uncle in early 2024. I was on a trip to TN to celebrate my best friends birthday. That night, uncle and I were the last 2 people awake. Awake is a loose word here as I was very intoxicated, and very out of it. This led to being the scariest night of my life. Least detail possible (TW Skip to next paragraph if needed): forced his hands up my behind repeatedly (through my pants) patting/rubbing my behind, grabbing me and begging for s*x after I continually say no, & while at my most intoxicated he massaged my legs all the way up my pants falling centimeters short of my swimsuit area.
The weekend after coming home, I drove back to TN to file the police report. There was no photo of video evidence of any of the events happening, but I did send screenshots of my call logs, a couple of text messages, and had the department call a friend I talked to that night between “events” happening.
He also had to come back to TN to turn himself in shortly after the report was filed.
Fast forward a year and a half and almost 3k later in therapy bills. The DA has offered 6 months supervised probation for a Misdemeanor Assault charge OR going to trial anytime in the next 6 to 18 months.
I will be honest. I don’t know that I have it in me to go to court. I’m so tired. But the other option is frankly bullsh!t. Everything he did was seually motivated or in nature. I’m honestly confused as to what he is pleading guilty to doing, considering nothing he did wasn’t seual battery.
Do I have any wiggle room to negotiate here? Is there anything I can do or say to change the charge or the punishment without going to court? Need advice before 4 pm EST 07/07/25
Comments
Plea deals are very much influenced by available evidence and witness testimony. You mention not wanting to go to court. That’s understandable, but is that a hard line you’ve communicated to the prosecutor? If so, they’re boxed into a pretty tight corner.