“This court finds itself deeply moved by the extraordinary bonds of community displayed here today, but the law still requires that property taken without payment be properly resolved,” Judge Lawson announced.

“Therefore, I am deferring all sentencing in this matter for ninety days to allow the parties to complete a community restitution program.”

I immediately promised the magistrate that our neighborhood association would organize a fund drive to repay the Mapleton General Market for every single dollar lost.

I also assured the bench that our local church pantry would coordinate with neighbors to ensure that neither Clarence nor Rebecca ever went without sufficient groceries again.

Yet Clarence barely seemed to hear the legal declarations or the murmur of relief that rippled across the courtroom benches.