The guy and gal who were forced out of the van at gunpoint and forced to leave their belongings behind may feel differently. Their belongings and the van were then taken from their possesion. The fact that they recovered the items does not negate the fact that they were stolen from them to begin with. Alot of people get their stolen items back but the robbers still get convicted.
Brian should have handed them their stuff before he took off. Did Brian tell them where and when to retrieve the items? If you remove items that don't belong to you at gunpoint, without permission, that's stealing. Ask any kid.
Steele knows this. He's playing games again. He's about to start in on the jury if he hasn't already. I think he has, by making the statement that the Christines "deserved better".
Maybe the jury didn't share your agenda.
There is no appeal from the kidnapping acquital so my best guess is that Brian will be out in three years or even less on these charges.
The child endangerment and abuse charges are more serious. If they do not have a much better defense, they both may be facing a lot of jail time. Brian is too small to survive and endure in prison.
These people made their own bed. Now they have to sleep in it. .