Judge Chris Wilton could have thrown the book at Jennifer Jensen and take her son away, but he instead gave her a second chance.
A former heroin addict has asked the judge who gave her a second chance to officiate her wedding — and he happily obliged.
Judge Chris Wilton could have thrown the book at Jennifer Jensen when he first met her three years ago. At the time, she was eight months pregnant and accused of violating probation stemming from a past drug case.
Instead, Judge Wilton sent her to jail for a day and told her to return to court a week later. At that appearance, he said that after she gave birth, she would need to get treatment.
She was 16 when she became addicted to heroin and since his decision to send her to treatment in 2014, he took note of her progress until her probation period was up in June 2016.
She knew she was getting a break when the judge ordered her to rehab, and has since been able to get off heroin and turn her life around.
In her final court appearance after completing the rehab program, she made an unusual request, asking that Judge Wilton officiate the marriage between her and her soon-to-be husband, Bill, in the Minnesota town of Shakopee, where they live.
Judge Wilton married Jensen, 24, and Bill, 27, in September in an outdoor ceremony attended by friends and family, including her 3-year-old son, Jackson, with whom she was pregnant when she first met the magistrate.
Judge Wilton told Inside Edition that he gives Jensen all the credit for turning her life around. He says he only takes credit for giving her the opportunity.
