He said if I testified against him my business would burn and I'd be inside it. The courtroom erupted. Judge Martinez banged her gavel. Order. So Sheriff Dalton did threaten you?
Linda said quietly. Yeah, he did. And yet you testify that you heard no threats to your nephew. Why? Vernon's voice was barely audible.
Because I was scared. No further questions.
During the lunch break Caleb cornered Vernon outside the courthouse. Why'd you lie? Caleb, I'm sorry. I just Dalton got to me. After they arrested him, one of his guys called said if I testified honestly they'd kill me.
Vernon's hands were shaking. I got a business, a life. I can't So you were willing to let him walk free, let him get away with everything? I was trying to protect myself. You were protecting a killer.
Caleb's voice was cold. My dad would be ashamed of you. Vernon flinched like he'd been slapped. Your daddy was brave. I'm not.
I'm just a guy trying to survive. We all are Uncle Vernon. The difference is some of us don't throw other people under the bus to do it. Caleb walked away and didn't look back.
The prosecution's rebuttal was devastating. They brought in phone records showing Dalton's burner phone calling Vernon three times. They brought in testimony from other witnesses, the paramedic Rosa who'd seen Dalton lurking around Arthur's hospital room. A state trooper who'd pulled Dalton's Silverado over for speeding two hours before Arthur's crash placing him definitively in the area. Most damning was the traffic camera footage clear as day showing Dalton's truck swerving across the center line directly into Arthur's motorcycle.
Richardson had no response to that. He tried to argue the footage was inconclusive that the swerve could have been accidental that Arthur might have lost control first. But the jury wasn't buying it. Closing arguments took a full day. Richardson painted Dalton as a dedicated sheriff targeted by a criminal organization trying to eliminate a lawman who'd gotten too close to their operation.
Linda painted him as exactly what he was, a corrupt cop who'd sold out his county for cartel money and tried to murder the agent who'd exposed him.
The jury deliberated for 6 hours. Caleb spent them in a courthouse conference room with Arthur and the others too nervous to eat or drink or do anything but wait. When the bailiff finally called them back, Caleb's heart was hammering so hard he thought it might burst. Has the jury reached a verdict? Judge Martinez asked.
We have, Your Honor. On the charge of attempted murder in the first degree, how do you find? Guilty. Caleb's knees nearly buckled. Arthur caught his arm grinning.
On the charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, how do you find? Guilty. On the charge of racketeering? Guilty. 47 counts?