'So what is our defense to the charges against you? They've listed twenty-four counts of trespassing when you tied up without permission at private docks. I agree with you that the river belongs to God, but the docks are private property.'
Moses looked at me and blinked his dark eyes. 'I want my boat back and to get out of this jailhouse so I can go to the river and catch fish. I won't bother nobody else. Never again.'
'Will you stop tying up at private docks?'
He rubbed his hand across the top of his head. 'I been on that river before there be docks. I reckon I can say to myself they ain't there no more.'
'Does that mean you won't tie up there?'
'Yes, missy. That be exactly what that mean.'
15
I WATCHED DEPUTYJENKINS ESCORT MOSES OUT OF THE INTERview area. I wasn't sure I'd conducted an adequate first interview or not. I glanced down at my single page of notes. There didn't seem to be any benefit in asking the old man about each count. I'm sure the story was the same. I considered my options.
I could remind the judge that God, as the Creator of all things, owned all the rivers of the world and looked favorably on baby Moses when his basket trespassed onto waters reserved for Pharaoh's daughter. Such an argument, while creative, wouldn't make me look like a competent lawyer-in-training. I could follow Julie's advice to subpoena the twenty-four dock owners to trial and hope none of them showed up. While trying the case would give me courtroom experience, it would also drag Zach Mays away from his more important work at the firm.
The best course of action was obvious. Moses Jones ought to plead guilty to the charges with a promise not to trespass in the future. After receiving a stern lecture from the judge, he could be placed on a short period of probation. I reached the lobby.
'Could I find out the name of the detective who interviewed my client, Moses Jones?' I asked the woman deputy on duty.
'Give me the case number.'
I handed her the file. She opened it and returned my notes.
'You might want to keep this.'
'Thanks.'
'Wait here.'
She left for several minutes. While I waited a deputy brought in a woman in handcuffs accompanied by two small girls. She stood forlornly with the little girls holding on to her legs while the officer spoke on a walkie-talkie to someone in another section of the jail. I stared, unable to pull my gaze away from the tragedy. The woman looked at me with eyes that pleaded for help. I took a step forward, then stopped. I had no right to intrude. The deputy took the woman by the arm and led her into the lockup area with the children trailing along behind.
The woman officer returned.
'It's Detective Branson. He's on his way up to see you.'
'He's willing to talk to me?'
'I showed him the order from the judge.'
A different door than the one I'd taken to the interview area opened, and a black man in his thirties wearing a casual shirt and dark pants entered.
'I'm Sylvester Branson,' he said.
'Tami Taylor.'
'Come with me.'
I followed him through the door into a suite of small offices.
'Have a seat,' the detective said.
On the detective's desk was a picture of a woman and two girls about the same ages as the ones I'd seen a few minutes before.
'You're working for Braddock, Appleby, and Carpenter?'
'Yes sir.'
'Mr. Carpenter represented my father and his brothers in a civil case several years ago. He's a great trial lawyer, one of the best crossexaminers in this part of the state.'
'That's what I've been told. I hope to see him in the courtroom while I'm here.'
'Did he send you down here to represent Moses Jones?'
'In a way. He asked Judge Cannon to appoint summer clerks to work on misdemeanor cases so long as another lawyer in the firm supervised our work.'
The detective didn't say anything. I shifted in my chair, not sure about the proper way to proceed.
'When I met with Mr. Jones, he mentioned that he had been interviewed by a detective,' I said.
'That's right. I talked to him.'
'Could you tell me what he told you?'
Branson tapped a folder on his desk. It was much thicker than mine.
'After waiving his Miranda rights, he talked freely about the charges.'
'Did he sign a statement?'
'Yes, but I won't give it to you now. You can obtain a copy once you file the proper request with the court.'
'I'm going to have to research how to do that.' I bit my lower lip and tried to think of something else to ask. I decided to broach the ultimate issue. 'If Mr. Jones wants to enter a plea, could I talk to you about that?'
'No, the district attorney's office will have the case assigned to a prosecutor. All plea negotiations are handled by the prosecutor.'
'Who has the case?'
'I'm not sure. No one has contacted me.'
I ran down my mental checklist. 'Is there a bond set in Mr. Jones' case?'
'Yes, it's five thousand dollars.'
'I don't think he has much money.'
'That's why he's still in jail and represented by an appointed lawyer. '
'I'm sorry. That was a stupid question.'
The detective smiled. 'No need to apologize. There are a lot of lawyers in Savannah who ask stupid questions. They could use a dose of your honesty.'
'Have you talked to any of the people who claim he tied up his boat at their dock?'
'One of my assistants and a deputy verified the information contained in every count listed in the accusation. The complainants are from the same homeowners association.'
'Can you give me the name of the association?'
The detective opened the file and read a name.
'Was there any physical damage to the docks?' I asked.
'Is there any mention of criminal damage to property in the charges?'
'No.'
'Then it's not part of the case at this time.'
'Good. Do you think the complainants would oppose probation for Mr. Jones if he promised to stay away from their docks?'
'That wasn't discussed. Their primary goal is to put a stop to your client's trespassing. This area is only partially developed, and there is still a lot of marshy wilderness. It's disturbing when a stranger comes around a private residence. Break-ins have occurred.'
'But nothing linked to Mr. Jones?'
'Not at this time.'
I looked at a certificate on the wall of the detective's office. It had something to do with proficiency in the use
