At the end of the story, James King is convicted of felony murder, while Steve Harmon is acquitted. Even though Steve is acquitted of participating in the robbery/murder, his attorney, Kathy O'Brien, is not convinced of his innocence and views him as a monster. Shortly after the verdict is read, Steve attempts to hug O'Brien, who stiffens and turns away. Months later, Steve thinks about O'Brien's reaction and realizes that she viewed him as a monster, which is the same term the prosecuting attorney used to describe him and the other criminals during the trial.

Throughout the story, the audience learns that Steve willingly joined the group of criminals and agreed to be their lookout during the robbery. Steve's attorney and the reader also know that he was present in the store on the day of the robbery and lied about his whereabouts on the witness stand. Fortunately, the prosecuting attorney's witness, Lorelle Henry, did not see Steve inside the drugstore during the robbery. Even though Richard Evans and Osvaldo Cruz testify that Steve played a role in the robbery but did not give a signal after leaving the store, the jury finds him innocent.

Kathy O'Brien does an excellent job of separating her client from James King and the other thugs involved in the crime. Additionally, Steve's teacher, Mr. Sawicki, testifies that he is a compassionate, honest student, which influences the jury's decision. Steve is lucky to be found innocent and spends a significant amount of time filming himself in order to determine his genuine nature.

In the novel Monster, the jury finds James King guilty of felony murder, but the narrator and protagonist, Steve Harmon, not guilty. Harmon does not go into any details about the verdicts, but at one point, a guard boasts to King and Harmon that he and his friends have placed bets on whether they get "25 to life." He may be just scaring them. On page 266, he tells them:

You guys treat me nice, and I'll put a word for you up at Greenhaven. Maybe I can get you a boyfriend that's really built.

Not everybody is convinced of Steve's innocence. In her closing statement, Steve's lawyer, O'Brien, tells the jury that Steve is not guilty. He may have been seen talking to the robbers on the street, but why surmise that they were plotting the crime? As Steve said, they were talking about basketball. In addition, she has proved Steve is a good student with an interest in filmmaking. What would have been his motivation to rob the store? O'Brien, however, does not seem to believe her own words, and at the end of the trial, she refuses to congratulate her client.

At the end of the novel, James King is convicted of felony murder for the robbery and murder of Alguinaldo Nesbitt, a Harlem drugstore owner. Steve Harmon, the novel's narrator and protagonist is acquitted of the murder and found innocent. According to Osvaldo Cruz and Richard "Bobo" Evans, Steve Harmon participated in the robbery and acted as the group's lookout. Steve was supposed to enter the drugstore, make sure the coast was clear, and give a signal indicating that no one was inside the store before Bobo and James King entered to carry out the robbery. However, Steve Harmon's participation in the crime is ambiguous and the reader wonders if he followed through with the plan. Despite being found innocent, Steve Harmon's attorney, Kathy O'Brien, refuses to hug him after the verdict is read and stiffens in horror when Steve attempts to embrace her. She backs away from Steve, collects her papers, and leaves him alone at the table. Five months after the trial, Steve continues to analyze himself and wonders what O'Brien saw in him when he turned to hug her after being found innocent. Steve Harmon questions if she views him as a "monster" and continues to wrestle with his true identity.

At the end of the novel Monster, Steven Harmon was declared not guilty. James King was declared guilty of the felony murder (murder done while committing another felony – the armed robbery) of Alguinaldo Nesbitt. James King goes off to jail and Steve Harmon goes home with his family. 

Even though Steve is not convicted for the murder, the doubts and fears that haunted him throughout the trial don't all go away. He worries about what kind of person he is, what he is capable of. His relationship with his family is messed up too. He says, 

"My father is no longer sure of who I am. He doesn't understand me even knowing people like King or Bobo or Osvaldo. He wonders what else he doesn't know."

Even though Steve did not face any jail time or stain on his official record, he is still punished for his actions at the convenience store. It's clear that these doubts will stay with him for a long time.