Lone Star Legal Aid’s Cheranda Robertson Helps Monica Protect Her Family

A Mother’s Courage

When Monica Grant rushed to her daughter’s school that day, she had no idea her life was about to change forever.

Called in by a school counselor, Monica sat down and heard the words no parent is ever prepared for: her 14-year-old daughter, Nicky, had been enduring years of sexual abuse at the hands of her father, a former law enforcement officer. In that moment, everything shifted. Nicky collapsed into her arms, sobbing, and Monica knew immediately what she had to do—protect her children at all costs.

With no time to process the shock, Monica followed the counselor’s advice. She quietly gathered her four children, snuck into their home to collect essentials, and fled to safety at her parents’ house. It was the beginning of a terrifying and uncertain chapter.

But the danger didn’t end there.

Her husband, now the subject of a criminal investigation, began showing up unannounced, circling her workplace, and harassing the family. The fear was constant. Despite calling law enforcement, Monica struggled to get immediate protection. She needed help navigating a system that felt overwhelming in the face of such trauma.

That’s when she turned to Lone Star Legal Aid.

Finding Strength Through Legal Advocacy

Attorney Cheranda Robertson stepped in at a critical moment.

During their very first call, Monica received an alert that he was likely heading to the house where she and her children were sheltering. Recognizing the urgency, Cheranda guided her in real time, urging her to call the police immediately. That decision proved pivotal. Officers arrived just as he pulled up, leading to his arrest on an outstanding warrant.

But Cheranda didn’t stop there.

When law enforcement hesitated on next steps, she advocated fiercely, educating officers on how to secure a Magistrate’s Order for Emergency Protection and ensuring it was put in place that very night. From that moment on, Monica and her children had a critical layer of legal protection.

Within days, Cheranda escalated the case, filing for a protective order covering Monica and all four children. With only two weeks to prepare, she worked to track down witnesses, gather evidence, and prepare Monica for one of the most difficult moments of her life: facing her abuser in court.

A Fight for Lifelong Protection

At the hearing, Monica showed extraordinary courage.

She testified in detail about what her family had endured, sitting just feet away from the man who had caused so much harm. Despite attempts from opposing counsel to negotiate a lesser outcome, Monica and Cheranda stood firm; they were fighting not just for temporary relief, but for permanent safety.

Their resolve paid off.

The judge granted a lifetime protective order for Monica and all four children, an outcome that ensured her abuser would never be allowed contact again.

Protecting the Future

Even after the order was granted, Cheranda continued to fight.

When the abuser violated the protective order, she worked across jurisdictions, coordinating with law enforcement and prosecutors to have him re-arrested and his bond revoked, preventing further danger to the family.

She also took proactive legal action to strengthen the protective order after a major change in Texas law, ensuring it would withstand future challenges. This kind of forward-thinking advocacy is what Cheranda calls “preventative justice.” It meant Monica and her children would not have to relive their trauma in court again.

Rebuilding Stability

Finally, Cheranda helped Monica secure a divorce and full custody of her children in just over 60 days, an outcome that is nearly unheard of in cases this complex.

Through strategic negotiation, she ensured Monica received the vast majority of the family’s assets, including a financial arrangement equivalent to years of child support, which would provide long-term stability for her children.

A New Beginning

Today, Monica and her children are safe.

They are no longer living in fear of unexpected visits, late-night calls, or threats to their well-being. Instead, they have the space to heal, rebuild, and move forward together.

This case is a powerful reminder that justice is not just about legal outcomes; it’s about restoring safety, dignity, and hope.

And for Monica and her family, that justice changed everything.

• Name(s) changed to protect the client’s identity.