You should get married, judge reportedly tells woman involved in alleged domestic violence situation
Marriage could bring a lighter sentence for a Pennsylvania mother of four, who pleaded guilty to charges of reckless endangerment after reportedly threatening to set her boyfriend–now husband–on fire.
Judge Joseph Williams III, who sits in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, noted that things were “getting kind of dysfunctional” between defendant Quenesia Catasphany and Andre White, WPXI reports.
According to the article, the two have three children together, and Catasphany was pregnant with their fourth at the March hearing. They also care for another child who belongs to a relative.
The altercation reportedly happened in October 2014. According to the article, White told police that Catasphany accused him of having an affair and threatened to set him on fire. The article also states that Catasphany admitted to pouring lighter fluid on White.
According to Pennlive.com Williams, at a hearing suggested that if the couple married, “we might be able to work this out better.” He reportedly told the two that if they got a marriage license, he would perform the nuptials.
“She isn’t advancing in her career. She has stair-step babies, for the most part, a guy that isn’t committed to her whom she thinks is running around with other women, and now she’s here in court,” Williams reportedly said at a hearing. “That’s the reality I see. Why wouldn’t you add some stability in her life?”
The couple married March 23, which was the same day as Catasphany’s hearing, WPXI reports. Two days after their marriage, Catasphany gave birth to their fourth child, a boy named Ali.
While some may question the wisdom of Williams’ ruling, Catasphany, who doesn’t have a resentencing date yet, told WPXI that she’s grateful
“Every single day we’ve been looking at each other. Our breakthrough has come,” she told WPXI. “I want to thank the judge for giving us the opportunity to better our relationship. I appreciate him for speaking up for me because it was something I wasn’t able to do.”
