COLUMBUS — Laura Hochstetler deliberately combed through her notes, checking her talking points for the upcoming closing argument.
This isn’t a class project, nor a debate in the classroom — Hochstetler, along with her fellow teammates, is at the state mock trial competition in Columbus.
Hochstetler and her fellow defense attorney Narissa Holbrook are the council for a junkyard employee Ash Espinosa found guilty of money laundering. The state is attempting to seize Espinosa’s 1967 Chevy Camaro for $8,000 in restitution, though the defense argues it’s worth around $80,000, thus violating their defendant’s Eighth Amendment rights.
Espinosa had a co-conspirator and relative Harley Diallo, whom the defense is arguing was the ring leader of the crime and thus should be largely responsible for damages.
“Your Honor, the numbers don’t lie,” Hochstetler said. “Harley Diallo did 80% of the crime. He owned 80% of the business.
“So, legally, Diallo was the leader 100% of the time.”
Hochstetler argued the state provided zero evidence that Espinosa knew anything about those $320,000 in laundered funds.
“Finally, let’s look at Espinosa’s culpability. Espinosa was a puppet and Diallo was a master pulling the strings,” Hochstetler said. “Diallo was in over his head and he believed the money was the only solution. So he put his own blood in a situation where he knew there were no good outcomes.
“Your Honor, the numbers don’t lie. However, people do.”
The “numbers don’t lie” comment was echoed by Holbrook in council’s opening statement, citing Espinosa was coerced and manipulated into embezzling money.
The first trial was a stunning success, with Hochstetler winning the Outstanding Attorney Award and Madysen Cochrun securing the Outstanding Witness Award for her portrayal of an auto restoration expert.
Despite the team’s success, the Danville Mock Trial team didn’t advance to the second day of state competition.
Still, there was valuable experience gained with the trip.
The team will be looking ahead at next year’s competition, attempting again to make history for the district and the program.
“These kids can boast of having the most accomplished season in Danville Mock Trial history. To win every single tournament in the state is a monumental achievement,” Coach Brittany Whitney said. “At the outset, each one of them made the commitment to put in the work and go the distance.
“They challenged themselves individually and supported each other as a team. It was a privilege to be along for the ride.”