I just wanted to share what happened at my son's pretrial hearing yesterday. I posted my story for the first time on this forum on August 22, 2015. I was so grateful to find this group. I am fortunate to have a lot of loving caring people in my life. However, while I know a couple of moms whose sons are incarcerated, I knew no one whose son was charged with sex crimes. On March 3rd of this year, my son was arrested for sexual abuse of his very young daughter. In fact, she disclosed to me and I had no choice but to report it. It was by far the very worst days, weeks and months of my life. Two days after his arrest, late at night and emotionally devastated, I laid in my bed with the worst pain in my heart that I'd ever had. I fell out of my bed onto my knees, my face in the carpet, and I wept. I'm not even sure how long I laid there. I begged and pleaded with God for him to save my family.

Well I just want to share with all of you that God is doing just that. My granddaughter as well as my grandson are with me, they have been receiving therapy, and they are doing very well. They feel safe, loved and they are very happy. It was a very difficult road in those early weeks and months because despite what my son had done, they love and adore their father and they experienced a lot of grief.

We reside in Florida which I have been told is one of the harshest states for sex crimes. My son's charges added up to 4 counts of Capitol felonies which carry a mandatory life sentence with an additional count that was a life felony.

Yesterday at my son's pre-trial conference, he signed a plea agreement offered by the prosecutor for 12 years incarceration followed by life sex offender probation, which we were told he could be released from after 25 years. They also allowed him to enter a plea of no contest instead of guilty. I was told by the SVU detective in March that with his charges, the most he would be offered in a plea deal would be 25 years, if he was lucky 20. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I am still in shock, joyfully of course, over the outcome of my son's situation.

I just want to say, that the most important thing that I found in these last 7 months that made the most difference for me, has been this group. Nothing else can compare to the support and encouragement from this group along with knowledge that I was and am not alone. A very special thanks to Rew for sharing with me his experience, extensive knowledge, and very encouraging support. I will never forget it. All of this just shows me that in spite of all the darkness and brokenness in this world, that light, love and grace most definitely exceeds it.

Much respect and appreciation for all of you!