The trial of Small Town comes to a close with a large dose of justice

                                               A quiet, well-manicured residential street. 

Monday, April 4th the residents of Small Town are breathing a collective sigh of relief after Judge Thomas Eveland charged John Boda with assault with a deadly weapon. What might have turned out as another slap on the wrist for this common offender turned into a 20-22 year sentence without the option for parole largely due to the brave defendant who took the stand to ensure that such a threat to society would not escape justice.

What began on July 27th after the defendant embarked on a walk with her dog before dark turned into an assault in her quiet suburban neighborhood. She was bodily attacked while the assailant, John Boda, wielded a large knife and demanded money in order to escape the crimes he claimed to have committed. In the midst of the scuffle, the defendant became injured and recounts an experience that chilled everyone present in the courtroom. Had there not been a neighbor nearby, or another neighbor's dog barking in alert, she is certain that her fate could have been very different and that she might not be here with us today to testify against the perpetrator. 

Her brave recollection of these events leaves members of the jury to ponder her final concerns- whether the next time this public menace strikes, perhaps his victim will not be so lucky. Perhaps next time, it will not be a knife, but a gun. These are very real concerns that rocked an entire community to its' core as deliberations broke out in the courtroom. 

The assailant, Boda, has a long past involving similar offenses that appear to be increasingly violent, though this is the first assault with a deadly weapon. There was a very real concern among townsfolk that this event might not be an isolated event and the court case unfolded with a sense of deep unease as fewer people were comfortable being out and about in their own community.  

The judge, having listened to the defendant's testimony but known for being lenient in the past, was reported to have said "I understand now. John Boda is clearly a menace to society." This ruling not only put away a dangerous person who could strike again but delivered a message that the citizens of Small Town will not tolerate crime going unchecked. 

The sound of the gavel coming down signifies that those who harm others will not prevail over the legal system. Residents of Small Town can rest assured not only that their neighbors are looking out for each other, like in the defendant's case, but striving for a safe and vigilant town dynamic.