All language subtitles for Law and order S22E18 - Collateral Damage

In the criminal justice system,

the people are represented

by two separate,
yet equally important groups:

the police,
who investigate crime,

and the district attorneys,
who prosecute the offenders.

These are their stories.

Hi, this is Jenny.
Leave a message.

Hi, Mom.

Sorry I haven't been
in touch for a while.

Things have been a little crazy
lately with classes

and work at the coffee shop.

I miss you.

Let's get together soon.

Maybe dinner at the Jupiter
or something?

I love you.

Okay. I gotta go.

Tell Dad I love him too.

Bye.

I'm really not feeling well.

Restaurant worker
found her in the dumpster.

Body's been rolled up
in that rug.

Any ID?

No wallet.
No phone, either.

Approximate age?

17 or 18.
Your guess is as good as mine.

Time of death?

MLI said she's been dead
at least a day.

Probably been here a few hours.

Cause of death?

No obvious signs of trauma.

What is that?

Looks like a brand.

Lone star?

What is that, Texas?

No, no, no. Lodestar.

Means inspiration or a guiding
light for a ship at night.

What the hell
guided her here?

Young lady at the end.

What did she die of?

She died of septic shock.

The wound from the branding
got infected.

It was festering
for a couple of weeks.

And she never got
any medical treatment.

Probably because of this.

- Ligature marks.
- Mm-hmm.

So she was being held
against her will.

Meanwhile,
the infection spread.

Sepsis caused tissue damage
and ultimately, organ failure.

Any estimate on her age?

The forensic odontologist
put her in her early 20s.

She seemed a hell
of a lot younger than that.

Malnutrition will do that.

She probably comes from money.

Has expensive dental work.

So nobody in Missing Persons
matches her description.

Facial rec was a bust.

And the branding design
didn't turn up in any database.

- You run her prints?
- Not in the system.

Only thing I found
was this in her pocket.

It's got a logo
to a music store.

Sharp Sounds Music.

That's Ava.
What the hell happened to her?

That's what we're trying
to figure out.

She died of an infection.

- An infection?
- Was she in here recently?

It's been a couple months.

She was super sweet
and really nice.

We're trying to identify her.

Maybe you know her last name?

I'm sorry.

What about a receipt?
Maybe she bought something.

No, I gave her
a couple guitar picks.

I gave her a harmonica too.

I kind of felt sorry for her.

Why is that?

She seemed lost.

She used to stop by the store
every now and then,

you know, ask to play
some of the guitars.

I loved listening to her.

You know,
she was really talented.

She ever come in here
with anybody?

Uh, yeah, a dude.

Oh, yeah?
What'd he look like?

Early 20s, dreadlocks.

Don't suppose you know
where we can find him.

Yeah, sometimes he busks
at that park

a couple blocks south of here.

Name's Ken something.

- Thanks.
- Thank you.

Excuse me.

Excuse me, Ken.

Ken, we need a word.

It's primetime
right now, man.

Can this wait?

Unfortunately, it can't.

Ava and I met senior year
at Tufts.

We both wanted to be musicians.

We moved in together
right after graduation.

A few months ago,
she started hanging out

with a new group of friends,

said she was looking
to deepen her creative forces.

Kicked me to the curb.

That make you mad?

Bummed me out,
but I didn't kill her.

I loved her.

We wanna get in touch
with her parents.

You know her last name?

Newhall.

They live
on the Upper East Side.

When was the last time
you saw her?

We were supposed
to meet up at a bar

in Red Hook five days ago.

I wanted to apologize
for some things.

She stood you up?

Someone said they saw her
outside the bar running away.

I went to go check,
but she wasn't there,

so I figured she changed
her mind about meeting me.

We need the name of the bar.

Sorry, guys.
We're not open yet.

Come back in an hour.

NYPD.

You the manager?

I'm the owner.
How can I help?

You seen this girl
around here before?

Doesn't look familiar.

- What about this guy?
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

He comes in from time to time.

Did he do something?

We're not sure.

How long these cameras
store video?

About a week.

Love to see the footage.

Sure.

Hey.

I tracked down
the vic's parents.

Father is
a Wall Street big shot.

The mother is
a network news anchor.

Uh, Jenny Newhall?

Oh, my wife loves her.

Well, they're in Palm Beach,

but they're headed back
to New York now.

Hey.

How are we doing
with that video from the bar?

Going through it now.

Ava's ex-boyfriend
was definitely there.

- Yeah, does she ever show?
- Not exactly.

This is about a block
from the bar.

There's Ava.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Hey, hey, hey, hey.

That's attempted kidnapping.

Who the hell is this guy?

Geez.

All right, find out
who that guy was.

I'll run the plates.

There's our car.

Donnie Preston.

NYPD.

What are you doing?
This is my car, my house.

Is there a problem?

Gun!

Hands above your head.

Touch the fence.

Keep your hands on the fence.

Do not move.

I didn't do nothing.

Yeah, well,
you got a lot of firepower

for a guy
who didn't do nothing.

They're legal.

What's this all about?

Attempted kidnapping,
for starters.

It's not what you think.

I wasn't gonna hurt her.

No, you were just gonna
drive her around the city,

maybe grab a cocktail
at the Polo Lounge,

and then drop her off
safe and sound at home, right?

Look, I know Ava's parents.

I'm the doorman
in their building.

Her mother hired me,
paid me 20 grand,

half upfront and the other half
upon delivery.

What do you mean delivery?

I was supposed
to bring the kid home.

Come on, bro.

You're trying
to make us believe

that Ava's parents hired you
to kidnap her?

No. I was trying to save her.

- From what?
- I don't know. I didn't ask.

I got bills to pay
just like everyone else.

Yeah.

Ava's parents are here.

Sit tight.

She sent us
a strange voicemail

a couple of days ago.

We tried calling,
but she never picked up.

This is exactly
what we were trying to prevent.

It's why we hired Donnie.

Was your daughter
in some kind of trouble?

Yes, she was.

She'd apparently joined
some sort of cult.

She went to a meeting,
a group dedicated

to unlocking their creativity
or something like that.

Ava had been depressed, uninspired.

Anyway, she seemed
really excited about it,

so we were supportive.
- At first.

But then it started to spiral.

Was she living
with anyone at this cult?

I think so.

She pretty much cut off
all contact with us.

Except when she wanted money.

These people
tried to bleed her dry.

They emptied her bank accounts
and then started

taking from her trust fund.

Thank God my lawyer called me.

We put a freeze on the account.

So you cut her off?

I had to.

How did she take that?

She just kept
repeating this mantra.

"I'm not a victim.
Lodestar is my guide.

I will manifest my future."

It's like she wasn't
herself anymore.

We just--we couldn't
connect with her, the--

the real her.

So you hired your doorman
to bring her home?

I assume that means you
know where she was living.

Sisters, these detectives
just told me we lost Ava.

Oh, no.

I don't understand
what happened.

Ava was on a righteous path.
She was a warrior.

I'm sure she was,
but unfortunately,

that's not how we found her.

When was the last time
any of you saw Ava?

I haven't seen her
in a few days.

Me, either.

I went to her room
this morning.

I was gonna give her
a cup of mint tea,

but she wasn't there.

I saw her two nights ago.

I think she was going
to watch some bands.

She didn't look like she was
going out to listen to music.

She was still in her pajamas.

She wasn't even wearing shoes.

What exactly goes on
in this house?

We're just
a community of women

dedicated to creativity
and self-actualization.

Oh. Who's in charge?

We're all in charge,

yet at the same time,
we're all subordinate.

So let me get this straight.

Ava died from an infection

that was spreading for days,
maybe even weeks.

She was rolled up in a carpet
and tossed into a dumpster.

Nobody here noticed anything
out of the ordinary.

And no one can tell me
what happened to her.

You look familiar to me.

How do I know you?

I'd like to ask you
a few questions.

Why don't you grab your
coat and step outside?

Let's go.

Sorry for your loss.

You really found Ava
in the dumpster?

- What's your name?
- Sienna Barton.

I recognized
that hand signal.

You were asking
for help, right?

I have a daughter
about your age.

She learned it on social media.

- I need to talk to my parents.
- Sure.

I'll get you a phone.
Come here.

Hold on. You're safe with us.

No one's gonna hurt you.

It's okay. It's okay.
Just take a breath.

You know your friend Ava
was sick, right?

She had a brand
that got infected.

You know anything about that?

I don't wanna
talk about all this.

I need to call my parents.

Then why don't we
call them from the car?

It's probably safer.

Is that okay?

Ava and I worked in
the same coffee shop.

She said she was
feeling kind of stuck,

so I told her about
this group, Lodestar.

I thought we could help.

Was she being held
against her will?

No.
We were all there voluntarily.

Can you explain
the ligature marks?

On her wrists,
she had these marks.

It looked like
she was being restrained.

That's from the
branding ceremony.

It kind of hurts,
so we tie everyone down.

When was she branded?

A couple of weeks ago.

That wound got infected.
That's what killed her.

Did you--did you notice
her health was deteriorating?

She seemed okay,
but I didn't really

see her much
in the past few days.

Did somebody prevent her
from seeing a doctor?

Not exactly.

I'm sorry,
but it's complicated.

You can tell us
what you're afraid of.

I'm not a victim.

Lodestar is my guide.
I will manifest my future.

We respect that,
but a woman has died.

You know that you participated
in an assault?

Sienna, sweetheart.

This is my daughter.

I wanna talk to her alone.

I think we should charge her.

With what?

Assault, conspiracy, manslaughter.

She admitted she
participated in the branding.

No, I get it, but I just--

I don't think that's enough.

We charge manslaughter
when kids

drink themselves to death
at fraternity hazings.

Yeah, but that's not
what happened here.

There's a time gap.

She had enough time
to go to a doctor.

Maybe somebody
didn't let her

because going
to get medical treatment

would have drawn attention
to the cult.

Okay. Fair enough.

So if you can find evidence
that the person

who branded Ava also prevented
her from going to the doctor

and then dumped her body,

we can charge that person
with homicide.

Police. Open up.

Police.

We're executing
a search warrant.

We need to enter the premises.

Step back, miss.

Please step back.

Move into that room, please.
- Come on.

- Ladies, let's go.
- Hey, let's go. Come on.

I need everyone to stop
what they're doing

and move over to this room.
Come on.

Move along. Have a seat.

Keep an eye on them.

Where's Ava's room?

It's over there
at the end of the hall.

- Whose room is that?
- That's my room.

Please have a seat.

I was just in Ava's bedroom.

Couldn't find a cell phone,
but I found a brand new carpet

with the price tag still on it.

I got a receipt
for an 8 by 10 foot carpet,

purchased this morning.

Paid for by Jocelyn Davis.
- Get out of here.

So she replaced the carpet,

which shows consciousness
of guilt.

Means we can prove Ava
was killed in her bedroom.

Also means we can prove
Jocelyn lied to us.

She said that Ava
went to go see a band

and never came home.

There she is.

I got the branding iron.

Well, that's three strikes
against Jocelyn.

Jocelyn, could you
come over here, please?

We need a word.

You can't take control
over me.

You can't break the circle.

These bonds,
they're shatterproof.

You don't wanna interfere
in an arrest.

We stand united.

Yeah, that's not
how this works.

So you back off now,

or we're gonna do
our own division.

Frank, let's try
a different approach.

Jocelyn, you seem
like a smart woman.

Come with us.

Okay, all of you
listen to me closely.

We can do this the easy way,

or we can do this
my partner's way.

Up to you.

It's okay.

We haven't done anything wrong.

Put your hands
behind your back.

You're under arrest
for the death of Ava Newhall.

This is a branding iron
we found in your bedroom.

Your fingerprints were
lifted from the handle.

Ava's DNA was found
on the Lodestar stamp.

Ava consented
to the branding.

We both know
consent is not a defense

to the infliction
of serious bodily injury.

And we found this carpet
in the dumpster.

It was used to hide
and transport Ava's dead body.

Crime lab technicians
recovered a few strands

of hair in the fibers.

Matches your client's DNA--

strong evidence that she's the
one who disposed of the body.

Why did you throw her
into a dumpster?

Why didn't you
call her parents?

Why didn't you call 911?

Don't answer that.

From where I sit, you didn't
want her to get any help.

You didn't want the doctors
to see her branding.

You knew that would
expose you and your cult.

Who helped you
carry the body?

'Cause there was no way
that you lugged her body

out of the loft by yourself.

Ava Newhall got sick
from the branding.

We don't deny that.

But she was awake and alert

and able to move
and make her own decisions.

She could have called
the doctor or her parents.

Tough to do when
you're tied down.

This is absurd.

There is no causal connection
between my client's

alleged actions
and Ava's death.

Come on.
We're getting out of here.

May I?

Charge her.

Charge her with what?

The defendant is charged
with aggravated assault

and illegal disposal
of a corpse.

Are the People seeking bail?

We're seeking 1 million cash.

$1 million?

At most she's facing
a few years probation.

Point taken.

Why should I impose bail,
Ms. Maroun?

The defendant branded
another woman

as part of an initiation
into a cult.

The wound got infected
and Ava Newhall died.

Then the defendant dumped
her dead body in the trash.

Your Honor, my client
has no criminal record.

She is not a flight risk.

The people are simply
punishing her

for her
unconventional lifestyle.

These are trumped up charges
that will go nowhere.

We're asking for personal.

The defendant is currently
under investigation for murder.

If the people
wanna charge murder,

come back
and I'll reconsider the bail.

Until then, I'm releasing her
on her own recognizance.

Can I go? Am I free?

Yes.

Next case.

What the hell
happened in there?

It's only the arraignment.

We thought the judge
would hold her.

Bail is only to assure
that she'll return.

I don't need a lecture
from you on bail.

I know how the system works.

The woman
who killed my daughter,

rolled her body up in a carpet,
and tossed her in a dumpster

gets to go home
to her comfortable loft

while our daughter lies in a
coffin in Woodland Cemetery.

No. No! Stop. It's okay.

Well, Jocelyn Davis just
waltzed out of the courtroom.

She's probably out buying a
new branding iron as we speak.

Don't you have her
on a couple of felonies?

Mm-hmm.

So chances are she'll
end up serving a year or two.

That's not enough.
Not even close.

Do you have any evidence
to suggest that Jocelyn Davis

is responsible for the death
of this young woman?

No, but that doesn't mean
she's not responsible.

She's a cult leader, Nolan.

She recruits young,
vulnerable women

fresh out of college
just trying to figure out

what to do with their lives,
then--

then she preys on them,
controls them,

manipulates them,
steals their money.

She's the reason
a 22-year-old woman is dead.

Fair enough,
but you're just saying things.

There's no real evidence
to support this.

No. I know.

If you want me
to prosecute it as a homicide,

you need something concrete,
something that shows

that Jocelyn prevented Ava

from getting treatment
for her wounds.

I tried, but none
of the women in the cult

are willing to cooperate.

Well, then work
with Forensics.

See if you can find texts
or voicemails

that show that Jocelyn
exercised control over Ava,

something that prevented her
from seeking medical attention.

I've done a deep dive
into Jocelyn's devices.

She didn't send any texts
or voicemails to Ava,

but I did find
some disturbing videos.

This is Sienna Barton's.

Last year, I volunteered
at an emergency shelter

for abused women and children.

I stole money from one
of the women who lived there.

$1,000, probably all the money
that she had in the world.

When she realized
the money was missing,

I blamed somebody else,
and that person got fired,

and she was arrested.

But I'm not a victim.

I own what I did.

Still, if my family...

Or my friends find out...

I'd want to kill myself.

I am so ashamed.

I share this confession
as an expression of trust

for my entry into Lodestar.

That's why she didn't
wanna cooperate.

She was afraid
of being exposed.

Looks that way.

What about Ava?
She make any confessions?

Yeah. Check it out.

My mom is kind of famous.

She's the anchor
on "Evening in America."

She's--she's having an affair

with one of the
political correspondents.

If my dad knew,
he'd be heartbroken,

and she'd lose her job
for sure.

But I trust you
with this confession.

I am not a victim.

I am on a path
to creative enlightenment.

I am sharing this confession
as an expression of trust

for my entry into Lodestar.

The video confessions show
that Jocelyn had the power

to exert tremendous pressure
over these women

to get them to do
whatever she wanted.

That's good news.

Once they gave over
their confessions,

the women couldn't walk away.

They'd live in fear that their
secrets would be revealed.

Took away their free will.

And it explains why Ava
didn't seek medical treatment

for her infection.
She felt threatened.

And she wanted
to protect her mother.

That makes it a kidnapping.

Which is a felony.

Since Ava died during
the course of that felony--

It's a felony murder.

There's our homicide case.

We've elevated the charges
to felony murder.

Thank you.

And she's been rearrested
and held without bail.

You have no idea
how much we appreciate that.

We have to warn you.

It's gonna come at a cost.

What do you mean?

There are things that are
gonna come out at trial.

Things about Ava?

Things about the family.

We don't care.
We just want justice for Ava.

But what kind of things?

Ava shared some secrets
with the group.

We don't have
anything to hide.

Right, honey?

She was a free spirit,
so smart and creative.

And she was a musician.

She played the guitar
and she sang.

We wanted her to go
to graduate school at Berkeley.

She'd filled out
the applications,

but, like most creatives,
she had her demons.

She was going through
a period of self-doubt.

Was it during this period
that she was introduced

to the defendant,
Jocelyn Davis?

Yes.

She sucked the life out of her,
took away her autonomy,

imposed harmful
and arbitrary rules.

So the defendant
exercised control over Ava?

Once, when I hadn't
seen Ava in a few weeks,

I begged her
to meet me for lunch.

And were you able
to see your own daughter?

Ava said that she had
to check with Jocelyn.

And Jocelyn told her
that she needed to focus

on her creative enlightenment.

So the defendant
controlled Ava's movements.

She dictated who she could
and couldn't socialize with.

Objection.

Sustained.

Are you aware
of a video confession

Ava made to the defendant?

I don't know
how she found out, but...

Ava knew that I was having
an affair with a colleague,

and she knew that
if it got out, my marriage

and my career
would suffer tremendously.

Was Ava protective of you?

Of your marriage
or your career?

Very.

I believe that Ava
went to her grave

in order to protect my secret.

Thank you.

Nothing further.

You can't prove that
my client used this information

to threaten your daughter,
can you?

Objection--Ms. Newhall
is simply a witness.

Not her burden to prove
or disprove anything.

Sustained.

You can't testify my client
prevented your daughter

from calling a doctor
or going to a hospital.

No, but one can infer.

Here, in a court of law,
we deal in facts and evidence,

not what one can infer.

Your Honor, I have nothing
further for this witness.

I move for a directed verdict.

Your Honor, the people
submit that there's--

Hold it, Mr. Price.

I'll see all counsels
in my chambers.

The people
have no concrete proof

that my client
committed a kidnapping.

There is nothing to show
that Ava Newhall

was being held
against her will.

Mr. Price, is that true?

People are allowed to present
a circumstantial case.

That may be,
but if you can't offer

a direct causal connection
between the defendant

and the victim's failure
to seek medical assistance,

I'm prepared to issue
a directed verdict

and find Jocelyn Davis
not guilty as a matter of law.

That won't be necessary.

We have a witness who will
tie all the elements together

and establish that Ava
wasn't free to leave the loft

and seek medical help.

What are you talking about?

Or better yet,
who are you talking about?

Sienna Barton.

Sienna B--no.

Not a chance in hell
she's gonna cooperate.

I told you before,
I don't want to testify.

Sienna has been
through hell and back.

That is exactly
why I need her.

She has to tell the jury
what she and Ava endured.

We know all the women
in the cult

were required to share
embarrassing things

about their past.

We watched
your video confession.

I know it feels
like a huge deal.

You did something shameful
when you worked at a shelter,

but it's not
the end of the world.

It is for me.

Can't you people
just leave her alone?

Sienna's testimony
is critical.

She can prove that Jocelyn
used the confessions

to threaten women
into submission.

And more specifically,
it'll prove why Ava

was afraid to seek medical help
and ended up dead.

I want to help you, but--

Sienna, like it or not,

you played a role in all this.

You held Ava down
while she was branded.

What exactly are you saying?

She doesn't cooperate,
we will charge her

with several felonies.

Assault, kidnapping, manslaughter.

Are you crazy?

She's the victim here.

She was brainwashed
and branded.

Doesn't mean she didn't
commit a crime too.

She could spend
a few years in prison.

I know that
you have suffered

tremendous emotional
and physical pain.

We wanna hold the person
who did this to you

and who killed Ava responsible.

And to do that,
we need your help.

And if she cooperates?

We'll immunize her.
We'll treat her as a victim.

And she will go back home
with you.

Be smart, Sienna.

Your future depends on it.

Did Jocelyn Davis prevent Ava

from getting medical treatment
for her wound?

Yes.

Did she render
any aid herself?

She told me
she put bandages on the wound,

gave her painkillers.

Can you please tell the jury

how the defendant convinced Ava
to stay in her room?

Jocelyn threatened
to release her confession.

Ava was scared.

She wanted to get help, but she
felt like she had no choice.

Jocelyn Davis
held all the confessions.

She made all the decisions.
She was in charge.

Yes.
Well--

not exactly.

Lodestar was really in charge.

Lodestar?

He's our supreme leader.

Lodestar is a person?

Yes.

We didn't meet him until
after we'd been branded,

after we gave our confessions.

Had Ava met him?

Not yet.
She was going to.

Did Lodestar have influence
over Jocelyn?

He controlled all of us,
including Jocelyn.

He set the rules,
told us where we could go,

who we could socialize with,
what we could eat.

He, um, liked us to be thin.

- And the money?
- He kept our money.

What about the confessions?

Jocelyn sent them to him.

Anything else?

There was the sex.

The real head of the cult
is this guy, Zach Elfont.

He gets Jocelyn Davis
to control

and manipulate the women,

pressure them
to donate money to the cult,

but it's really a guise
for this Zach Elfont guy

to get rich and have sex
with young women.

Sounds like the NXIVM cult.

It's more like
a sick copycat.

No one at NXIVM died
from their branding.

Why are we just learning
about Elfont now?

His name never came up.

Members of the cult have
obviously been protecting him.

But he's the one
calling the shots?

Yes.

Jocelyn gives him
the confessions,

and he uses them
to coerce women

into doing whatever he wants.

So this whole thing
is about pleasing

a sociopathic narcissist?

I wanna charge Elfont
with felony murder.

What's stopping you?

Sienna can't testify about

his involvement
with Ava's death.

I can't prove that
without Jocelyn.

Then try to flip Jocelyn.

We'd like your cooperation.

And in exchange?

We are prepared
to offer full immunity,

dismiss all charges.

I can't.

I can't turn on Lodestar.

We just want you to tell
the truth about what happened.

The truth is,
he's a great guy.

I'd be nothing without him.

I was a 16-year-old punk
when I met Lodestar.

16?

Did he have sex with you
at that age?

That's not important.

You were a minor.

He exerted tremendous
influence over you.

Lodestar saved me.

I grew up
with an abusive stepfather.

I ran away.

I started doing drugs, stealing.

And then I met him.

And he took advantage of you.

I'm not a victim.

He taught me
to stand up for myself,

and that's what I'm doing.

Don't you hear the irony?

He has trained you to believe
that you're not a victim.

And all the while,
he's been victimizing you.

You're facing life in prison
because of him.

Jocelyn, they are
offering a fair deal.

Think about it.
Protect yourself.

We are going to get him

with or without you.

You'll never get anywhere
in your journey

until you stop complaining
about what the world owes you.

The world owes you nothing.

You have to stop acting
like victims.

Excuse me, Lodestar.

- Can I help you?
- We'll see about that. NYPD.

Take your hands
out of your pocket.

Put your hands
behind your back.

Okay, hold on.
What are you doing?

We're taking you on your
own journey to enlightenment.

- He hasn't done anything.
- Stop!

He hasn't done
anything wrong.

We've developed a strong
homicide case

against you, Mr. Elfont.

Jocelyn called me
from the jail.

She said you tried
to pressure her.

She's not gonna
testify against me.

We don't need her testimony.

Forensic analysis of your
phone shows that Jocelyn texted

Ava's confession to you.

I never asked her
to send me those things.

The woman has an unhealthy
obsession with me.

She was jealous of Ava.

Mm-hmm.

We also have GPS
and surveillance video

of your car outside the loft
and near the dumpster

around the time that Ava died.

Jocelyn borrowed
my car all the time.

Bank records show that
Jocelyn sent you all the money

she collected from the women.

I run a business.

I help women who wanna
tap into their creativity.

Jocelyn worked for me.

She helped to collect tuition.

And oh, by the way,
I slept with some of them.

Nothing illegal about that.

All this stuff about branding
and confessions

and cults, it's insane.

I had nothing to do with it.

Elfont has an answer
for everything.

I need Jocelyn to refute the
false narrative he's created.

If you can't get her
to cooperate...

There's a good chance
he skates.

Where are you
with Jocelyn's trial?

It's winding down.

Are you going to get
a conviction?

I believe I am.

Not exactly cause
for despair.

Let's not forget
she's responsible

for Ava Newhall's death.

Elfont was behind it all.

He met her
when she was a teenager.

He groomed her for sex.

He manipulated her
into doing his bidding.

All you can do
is offer her a fair deal.

The rest is up to her.

You're not her lawyer.

I must say, I was pleased

to receive your call
last night.

Well, I was glad too.

Jocelyn and I have done
a lot of talking,

and she does see the importance
of protecting herself here.

That true?

You willing to testify
against him?

Yes. Absolutely.

I want him to pay
for what he did to those girls.

And for what he did to me.

I'm not a bad person,
Mr. Price.

I swear.

I just...

I lost my way.

Those things you said
about manifesting your future,

you're doing that--
right here, right now.

So good for you.

Sam.

Good news.

Jocelyn's lawyer managed
to talk sense into her.

She has agreed to cooperate.

It's too late.

- What do you mean?
- Elfont is dead.

He's dead?

Lodestar mouthed off
to the wrong guy.

Someone beat him to death
in his cell about an hour ago.

You're prepared
to do your closing?

What, you want me
to pull Jocelyn's plea offer?

We don't need
her testimony anymore.

That doesn't change the fact
that she's still a victim.

She was a victim.

At some point,
she became a victimizer.

She recruited
dozens of unsuspecting women,

took their money, groomed them
for sex with this guy.

None of this would have
happened without Elfont.

She killed someone.
She's gotta answer to that.

Would we be having
this conversation

if Jocelyn was a man?

- I thought we had a deal.
- Circumstances changed.

But she was willing
to cooperate.

It's not her fault
that Elfont is dead.

We made her a fair offer.

She waited too long to accept.

You yourself admitted
that she was a victim.

You pleaded with me
to get her to cooperate.

Can we at least come
to some kind of a compromise?

We both know
she doesn't deserve

to spend the rest
of her life in prison.

I understand both parties
have reached an agreement.

My client would like
to change her plea to guilty.

Is that true, Ms. Davis?

Yes.

I just wanna say
to the Newhall family,

I'm so sorry.

I really liked Ava.

I wish I had never gotten
involved in Lodestar,

that I'd never met Zach.

I used to think
I was lucky to know him,

to be in his orbit,

but he used me.

He used all of us.

Thank you, Ms. Davis.

I'll accept your plea
as knowing and voluntary.

Do the people move
for sentencing?

- We do.
- What's your recommendation?

We have an
agreed-upon recommendation

of 12 years in state prison.

The court
hereby sentences you

to serve 12 years
in the state penitentiary.

We're adjourned.

12 years.

If we give a free pass
to everyone

who's ever been victimized,

we'll have to open
the prison gates.