In October 2013, my husband was arrested in North Carolina accused of terrible crimes in New York. He was held in North Carolina for 3 months then extradited to New York to face his charges.
Since no one ever expects this to happen to them we did not have 50,000 sitting aside for a high power attorney to represent him so we were faced with the only option of a court appointed attorney. Having faith that once his trial came and went the jury would find him innocent, given there was no evidence and stories kept changing, we believed a court appointed attorney would be sufficient.
We did not know that the court appointed attorney would prepare no defense for my husband we did not realize the DA was withholding evidence that could have set him free long before the trial and we did not know that my husband’s right to due process would not be given to him.
Once certain things came to light right before the trial such as the evidence the DA had and his lawyers insufficient representation the judge ignored all of it and allowed the trial to go on. The jury was confused about a lot of the testimony and complaining about it taking to long.
Still, we kept our positive way of thinking because the stories were all over the place and kept changing and there was no proof and what we heard an witnessed in that courtroom was so crazy we though no one in their right mind would be able to believe this.
To our shock and horror, the jury came back guilty. Two weeks later, my husband was sentenced to 19 years in a maximum-security prison. We got married in 2013 and have not been able to spend one anniversary together, his first grandchild was born and he was not able to be there for that, we lost our home and our business.
We are appealing and do not want to take the risk of using another court appointed attorney and were told it would be a terrible idea to use a court appointed attorney. We are asking for help to pay a reasonable lawyer willing to work with us to represent my husband during his appeal. We are confident with all that was allowed and all that was ignored by the judge that proved my husband innocent we can win this appeal.
I am a victim of domestic violence that has also been abused by the court system by my ex. It started with domestic violence for many years. I finally left but the threats continued. In September, he threatened to knock my teeth out. I attempted to press charges in Wilson county and was told no since nobody else heard it. I then attempted to get an order of protection and was approved for the temporary, but was told although the relationship was toxic that the abuse didn't warrant an official OP.
Fast track to November my ex was arrested for stalking. I attempted to get another order of protection, but was told "I appeared too smart to have stayed in an abusive relationship so long". I mean of all people judges should know better the dynamic of these relationships. To make it better my ex used the legal system to get a temporary restraining order on me including my son. Therefore, I haven't seen my baby in 5 months. I have always been the primary custodian of both my children so there's no reason I shouldn't see my son, much less have any calls or visitation.
Also, due to my ex taking my vehicle and I lost my job in September. I do not have the funds for a lawyer to fight this. I have reached out to everyone. I have asked for help. Legal aid can't help me because we weren't married. This should be investigated as well as the lack of resources for domestic violence victims. We should not still suffer from the hand of our abusers in court due to lack of help.
Seth was at his sister's home on the evening of February 5th, spending time with his neices. On his way home a pedestrian entered traffic, not in a designated crosswalk. The pedestrian was hit and is now in stable, critical condition. Seth reacted immediately going to the pedestrian's side and calling 911. Witnesses stated that the pedestrian was j-walking and told Seth it wasn't his fault.
While being interrogated by police, he blew a 0.00. The officer insisted that it "couldn't be right" and made Seth blow again. He once again blew a 0.00. The officer conducted several field sobriety tests, including a card comparison test of his pupils. Seth passed test after test. The officer took Seth to the side of the road to perform the heel to toe test. While doing this test Seth's heel overlapped his toe slightly. The officer deemed this as a failed test and proceeded to arrest Seth.
Currently, Seth is being charged with DUI/Vehicular Assault. Seth was not under the influence. Please help us to hire a lawyer to protect Seth's freedom. The Spokane Police department has faced repeated scutiny for their "color of law abuses," and this IS one of those cases. They are using the media to get partial truths and white lies out to the public. Please help us fight this injustice!
I am a long-term meditator and yogi (20 years), still standing on my head in the morning – at age 56. I love that. – But, I should not have lived if it was up to the criminal one trying to end my life, nor to the government in Norway not caring much about Human Rights in Norway.
Taking my Norwegian Government to court for Human Rights Abuse In Norway I have finally taken my Government to court for Human Rights Abuse, and lost in the first round (Oslo Tingrett). Through criminal action over several years I was removed of my income, my house and family home, my car and in the end - a daily connection with my loving family: My human rights were abused to the point where I fled Norway to survive, finding a new home in Bali. How I managed to survive all this? Read on and please support this appeal to win over a non-listening and disrespectful government.
Government offered no support against a fierce attack This multi-year all-encompassing attack was cynically planned and orchestrated by a board member in my own company, a disloyal and clearly ill-intending man. I lost it all through court due to his professionally planned lies, his cunning deceit, his serious threats on my life and an energetic attack out of this world. Through all of this I was drained of a lot of positive life energy and I can prove loss of physical health as well. I went from healthy to a point of "near-death" blood clogging, clearly so by medical tests at hospitals in Bali and Norway. From that low point I turned my infection-ridden health around – with an extreme physical expedition on May 2nd, 2014. After thus becoming healthy and able again, I have still lost five of my best years in between.
Not willing to budge on a serious breach of Human Rights - I appeal I stride forward the best I can and as soon as I am done with this drawn-out court process, I hope to return to consulting which I'm good at. Until a real chance in court, with a jury and all, I am still broke and seriously need funding to appeal.
Power abuse by government agencies has been rampant I have much good evidence, clearly showing breaches of truth every which way by the government agencies involved. They've been busy not listening to truth of the formal powers of the company run bankrupt by a renegade board member. Instead, they have listened to the eager voice of the criminal. I find this utter strange. Per the European Human Rights Accords, there are six core articles breached by the criminal and thereby, by government agencies. They are articles:1, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
Financial need for funding Taking the case to the next level has court costs (about 3,000.00 USD) and lawyer costs (the rest, at least). This is the highest court level before the supreme court – which very few cases qualify to be brought to anyway. Thus this is likely the first major round in court and the last one too. I do see that even though I have a sharp pen, being from the military (a LtCol) and having translated deep texts as well, I am not a lawyer. And to win over a tactically able but content-weak government, I still need a savvy lawyer. A winning team this time has to be more than truthful, it has to be tactically able too.
I am here to ask for your help to stand up for Human Rights in my home country of Norway. For this murder of justice (and very close to a physical one), it is important to make the Norwegian Government take responsibility for their part in serious wrongdoing. Please help me, I need your support. A win here will help many. Thank you for any amount possible.
Me and my sister's mother died in 2008. She left no will. I was 19 and my sister was 25 at the time. My mother was an only child. When my grandmother died my mother inherited my grandmothers house. My mother and father are married and have been for 20+ years but have been separated since I was 2 years old. My mother and father never got a divorce. Fast forward to 2008 my father was in prison. My mother died in October 2008. When she passed away she left no will. So the house went to our estranged father. We haven't talked to or seen him in years. We had to communicate through phone and letters regarding the estate.
About 2 months after my mothers death he decides he doesn't want rights to the house and will sign them over to me and my sister which he did. Everything went to probate court and was finalized. Me and my sister were the owners. We paid off the mortgage on the house and pay property taxes every year.
We did not live in the same city as our mother prior to her dying. So we left our homes to take care of the property after her death which was 4 hrs away. We lived there for a few years. After getting everything straightened out we moved back to our homes and lived our lives. Our father gets out of prison, gets a new gf, and breaks into our home without our permission. Furniture has been moved in, utilities turned on illegally and we can't get them out. Police has been called and we have been told this is a civil matter. We have gotten threats from his gf and him and they are stating that it's THEIR home. I have paperwork from the clerk of courts proving otherwise.
We have found a lawyer who is willing to represent us, but is charging a $2000 retainer fee. We just want back what our mother and grandmother worked hard for. Anything helps. Thank you!
For more information please visit www.fundedjustice.com or click here
She called herself Ulla Trouble Couture, the pseudo name aptly chosen. She struck up a social media friendship with a young black man adopted as a child from Cleveland, Ohio and brought by a couple who had adopted numerous other children to rural Montana. By now, Kyrii was a father, living with an elderly friend in a trailer park in Missoula. He was on probation for a non-violent crime. His elderly friend, convinced that the color of his skin had worked against him in court had promised that when he was on his feet the trailer would be given to him as a gift. Shortly after meeting on social media, Trouble drove from Minnesota and showed up at his door. A romance ensued, but it soon became apparent that Trouble was afoot. Trouble and Kyrii made immediate plans to be married. The trailer had become crowded. Since marriage plans were in the works a deal was struck. Trouble would pay for half the value of the trailer. Kyrii would be gifted his half, and the elderly friend would move out and leave the happy couple to themselves.
The trailer title was signed and notarized by the owner, Trouble took the document to the Court House to have the title transferred, but failed to add Kyrii's name. She was now the single owner of a trailer purchased for half the value. The elderly friend did not file a fraud complaint. Kyrii was distraught. Trouble wanted him out. Fights ensued and with each incident, Trouble would contact his probation officer and report abuse. A probation revocation hearing was set. Kyrii protested to his attorney that Trouble initiated the violence, and his actions were only defensive. On the stand at the revocation hearing she admitted this was true.
Nonetheless, his probation was revoked, he was remanded to the county jail, charges of domestic abuse were filed and a trial was set. Her admission from the revocation hearing was not allowed at trial. One of Kyrii's friends waited to testify that when Kyrii fled to his house, Trouble followed him, demanding from the street that he come down and talk to her. When he did, she hit him in the chest knocking him to the ground. The Public Defender never called him to the stand. Another friend testified that Trouble had visited the welfare office and returned with a banquet of benefits, saying, "I told them I was pregnant" -a lie. It mattered not. Kyrii was convicted of several domestic abuse charges and sentenced as a habitual offender to over 60 years in the state prison where he remains today. A boy without a father, an elderly friend defrauded out of her property and another young black man locked up for life. This is justice in America. Investigators and lawyers say it should all be overturned, but to do that they need money. Kyrii's friends have exhausted their resources, and are asking for your help to hire a professional team to appeal. Can you help?
My name is Katie Wohl (Coleman). In July of 2013 I was sexually assaulted by someone I considered a friend. The attack was shocking, painful and heinous. The attack resulted in a pregnancy. In the state of MN, there are absolutely no laws on the books to protect a child and mother from the attacker in these cases; meaning, a rapist has the same parental rights as a father that conceived a child out of love. I made the decision not to report the attack at the time due to that fact. At the time this occurred, there was a similar case in Massachusetts hitting the news circuit, where there are also no laws pertaining to these situations. In that instance, her rapist was allowed parental rights and she in turn was sentenced to be chained to her attacker until her child reached the age of 18. After losing one child with my now ex-husband, and never being able to conceive after that, I made the most difficult decision of my life, to go through with the pregnancy and keep my child. I made the decision to turn such a terrible event into a joyous one. I did that for me! On February 5th, 2016 I was served a paternity summons from my attacker. Not only is he requesting he be considered the father, he is alleging I am an unfit parent and also wants to be awarded full legal and physical custody of my son. This individual already has a criminal history of assaults in bars, Two Separate DUI convictions, amongst several other misdemeanors. He and his father have a violent history with each other. I do not want him near my child, or family. This innocent child is well loved; and is inseparable from the man he's known as his father as well as his younger brother. This is going to be a taxing emotional and legal battle, as well as a financial one. Please consider donating anything at all to help with the legal fees that will go towards prosecuting my attacker, keeping my son with me and his loving father permanently and allowing him to adopt the child he loves so dearly. For more information please click here or visit www.fundedjustice.com
My name is Mallory and I’m here to reach out for help to reunite myself and my 3 year old daughter Gia. My family (sister, brother in law, mom & even my dad) all decided, behind my back, that "I" no longer deserved to parent my own daughter. Although I admit I suffer from emotional problems, I have been receiving the gold-standard therapy known world wide for the best results: DBT. I was in a very emotionally vulnerable time after suffering from depression; and because of my depression, my family threatened to keep my daughter from me permanently unless I signed legal custody papers. I never intended to give custody of my daughter over to anyone, especially my sister. What I did do is ask my sister for ‘help’ babysitting my daughter for a few weeks, while I got started into a new and effective therapy, DBT. In the two weeks my sister ‘babysat’ my daughter, my entire family went to the South Carolina Family Court, without my knowledge, permission or presence, and filed for permanent custody of my daughter. Because I was in Florida at the time and because I was not present in court in South Carolina when they filed for custody, the judge automatically honored their request and my sister became permanent custodial parent of my daughter and continues to this day. South Carolina Family Court laws state that custody is automatically awarded if the parent of the child cannot represent herself.
Following the kidnapping and illegal custody hearing for my daughter, my family then refused to give me any information as to my daughter’s whereabouts and proceeded to keep my daughter from me for a full ten months. Finally, after ten months of tortuous pain and no contact with my daughter, my family members agreed to “let” me see her but only if I agreed to sign legal documents that I not only didn’t understand, but felt I had to sign out of fear of never seeing my daughter again.
What's most important to say to you, my readers, is that my family members are the primary people who raised me and abused me; they contributed primarily to my emotional pain and trauma from early on in my own childhood. The good news here is that I now know, I am no longer a victim! I am a survivor. My family members however, still remain emotionally unhealthy and suffer from what I realize now is distorted thinking, extreme emotional problems and they as a whole, are significantly unwell. I was the family scapegoat, for over 23 years but no more. I've learned through my last year in intensive DBT therapy, that although I am responsible for my own actions as an adult, I am not responsible for theirs. I know now that my family lied to me, coerced me, and took my daughter while pretending they wanted to help me. I admittedly reached out to them for help after many years of little contact, hoping that things would be different, and what I ended up with was more coercion, lies and my daughter ended up kidnapped from me. I didn't know they fully intended on using my lack of legal knowledge against me, to kidnap my daughter from me, under the disguise of 'helping me'. I was admittedly quite naive, and didn’t believe that “money” in court of law could actually win over justice. But I know now the unfortunate truth the hard way: yes, money can go a long way when trying to cover the truth and in a courtroom, money is needed to fight lies, so the truth can be uncovered.
What I'm left with now is a tumultuous problem within the South Carolina family court system: I need to fight for what is rightfully mine, my daughter, and I need to do it with legal representation, yet I do not have the financial ability to hire an attorney who can help me get my daughter back. I attempted recently to go to South Carolina for a court appearance, without legal representation, and was forced (coerced) to sign more legal documents proposed by my sister, that I not only didn't understand, I also had no choice of signing due to the 'bargain' of being permitted at best, visits with my daughter.
I have never put my daughter in harms way or neglected her. I did the best I could to reach out for help and protect her while I was seeking help to resolve my emotional distress. Now? I've learned that I have rights, I didn't have to sign the legal documents and, that with proper legal representation, I can quite easily win my daughters life back, and my own life will once again have purpose: to raise and love my daughter, and teach her what I'm learning and most importantly how to break the cycle of abuse & child maltreatment that my family, continues to demonstrate, even now as I write this.
My sister has full custody of my daughter; my sister too was a victim of our family's abuse. However she has not had therapy nor has she learned the cycle of abuse and coercion that runs deep in our parents' family line. My sister requires my daughter to call her “mom” and her husband “daddy”. I've been reduced to being referred to as “Aunt Mal”.
Prior to my daughter’s kidnapping and illegal custody transfer to my sister, I was enrolled as a college student while teaching Yoga in the evenings. My daughter and I lived in a wonderful, clean home that was very safe. This has been very confusing and traumatizing for my daughter and I both. This is now becoming a cycle of abuse that I can see happening to my own daughter and I am ready to stop this cycle, regain custody of my girl and set her free from this awful chain of events. I am healthy, whole and learning more and more about my own roots of invalidation and trauma and how it's affected my behavior and me.
I'm pleading for help. I must fight wisely within the law and I have no financial resources to fight with due to my family's refusal to offer me any help whatsoever, and they're own use of high paid attorneys to ensure I will never see my daughter again. They have kept her away from me for over a year now and will not even speak on the phone with me. I have never been charged with any drug or criminal charges and I have never put my daughter in harm’s way. I am a loving mother and person. I am successfully employed full time as a lead Yoga instructor, and I also work part time as a care-giver for a 90 year old elderly woman suffering from Dementia. I give all that I can to help others. My work doesn’t, yet, afford me a lot of income; but in my heart it is something I love to do and I love seeing the positive impact that my love has on others’ lives. When my plan to regain rightful custody of my daughter becomes a reality, I will be able to focus my thoughts, energy and time to returning to college and completing my degree, where I’ll earn the ability to generate more income.
My life’s biggest error was in trusting someone, my family, to help me and my child, but they themselves are far more sick than I knew. I tried to seek help from them in order to take time to stabilize my emotions so I could be the best parent to my daughter possible. Now, I am the one who has learned that my family is the ‘one’ who is sick. I have and am on the path to wellness and recovery from what has been a generations of mental illness. I am no longer a part of my family’s illness and patterns, I am healing, I am whole and I will not allow my daughter to be raised as I was.
I was afraid to fight them back due to their emotional bullying but this has gone too far and my daughter deserves her biological and ‘real’ mother back in her life. I have worked diligently and with all of my being to get an understanding of my emotions and behaviors, where they come from and what I need to do to be in control of them and to ensure that I will never fall back into that dark place again.
I can assure you that if you can find it within your heart to donate, I will honor your donation by not only keeping you updated regarding this case, but also more importantly, I will honor my daughter once custody is returned to me, by giving her a healthy and safe life. I have two strong female role models that are both committed to teaching me, coaching me and therefore ensuring that I am never left without genuine help again. I have a strong support system and fully intend to increase my support to include only those people who've mastered skillful and effective life skills; who have genuine, true interests in my best interests and me.
Please help me to stand tall in the South Carolina courtroom, with legal representation, and bring my little girl home and out of a toxic and unhealthy traumatizing situation. I have tried and exhausted every resource I know and all of my alternative choices. I need to break this cycle of abuse and trauma within my family once and for all. I have personal references to confirm my history as a loving and kind mother and person if anyone who reads this letter is interested. Please message me back if you are in need of further information that will help you make a decision about donating.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading my and Gia’s story. And, thank you in advance for any amount of financial contribution or donation you can make to help us be reunited, forever.
I have always had an inflated sense of pride and it has taken me a few weeks to come to the conclusion that I need financial help. I have been married for 16 years and divorce has never really entered my mind - until last week. My wife and I are a military couple who, for the past 3 years, have been separated as a result of difficult military assignments. My wife is now the military member (I got out in 2002) and the first year of our involuntary separation was her restricted assignment to Korea. The Army had promised a return to our base of Fort Carson in Colorado, but half way through her tour we informed Fort Carson was not possible. She was then given a choice to teach ROTC in Arizona. A great assignment for her, however; I had a career in Colorado established as a result of the Army previously offering my wife would be assigned to Colorado. If I could have transferred my career to Arizona I would have, but the opportunity never presented itself. We figured since she had about 2 1/2 years until retirement, we could handle the separation and visit regularly driving back and forth. I was left with the responsibility of taking care of our 13-year-old daughter while she served out her assignment in Arizona. Issues began to arise as a result of this separation which led to my wife telling me she was "happier" being alone. This is clearly a side effect of the length of time we have been separated. One of the big issues that is testing us is that we purchased a home last year. I do not want to have to sell, especially since it's in a good school district for my daughter and she is at that age where changing schools and friends could be significant life changing events. My daughter has been through enough being a military child. I understand this is not a special situation and thousands of military kids unfortunately experience this. As a result of trying to maintain 2 separated living accommodations, I have obtained the majority of debt which makes hiring a divorce attorney extremely difficult without going into bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is not really option as I am a Government employee who must maintain a security clearance and keeping and information of a divorce off my record is crucial. I am asking for your generosity in helping with legal fees and the possible sale of a home. Keeping my home is a priority, but I do realize I may have to go against my will. Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope you can help with whatever you determine is appropriate. For more information please visit www.FundedJustice.com or click here
Welcome to our page.
Our names are Dan and Virginia.
We are the birth parents of Hailey Elaine born Feb 6, 2009.
Our parental rights where illegally terminated on December
9, 2011. On December 6, 2011 the Judge
held a three month review hearing. Three
days later he signed an order terminating our parental rights; without a
hearing and without a petition.
We know the rules and regulation. We didn't find out our parental rights were
terminated until we tried to set up a visit on December 19, 2011.
CYF and the Judge had no intention of telling
us. They are corrupt. The Judge has since been indicated for wrongdoing
and other things.
We have been fighting since day one. We will never give up the fight for our
daughter.
We love our daughter Hailey very much.
We pray for help. We
don't like to ask for help. We just want
our baby home.
Our baby girl is going to be 7 years old on Saturday.
We have missed so much stuff; so many
birthdays Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving and every other holiday out there.
We are now having health problems from all of the Stress
that CYF and the Judge has caused us. We
don't sleep and we don’t eat much.
Please help bring our baby girl home where she belongs.
We are also being discriminated against for the open
adoption act in PA, called Act 101 of 2010 adoption act.
The five years have taken a toll on our funds. We are running low on funds to get the best
lawyer.
Hi my name is Greg Minchew. I have been falsely accused of sexual assault. It’s hard to believe that someone could say something because they are mad and affect you and your family lives forever. I have three boys. They are 9, 13, & 15. I was married out of high school. The marriage didn't work out and ended up going to court for custody of my two boys. I was awarded full custody. I had my first son when I was 18 and I have been working ever since. I have never been in trouble until now.
I have been married 12 years to my wife now. We have one son together. She also had two daughters. I raised them since they were three and five. They are now 16 and 15. It all started with phones and boys.
They wanted to do whatever they wanted to. I wouldn't let them because I had rules. They also wanted to move out to their grandmother's house because she let them do whatever they wanted to. They also have a large amount of money that their grandmother wanted control over. I always treated them like my own. They got mad and said things.
Now I have to prove myself innocent. Once it’s said you can't take back. I had to sell my house to pay for a lawyer and the case was dismissed. Now they want to charge me with different charges. I lost my lawyer after case was dismissed. Now I need help. My family and I are about to lose everything. It’s not fair.
IT’S HARD TO PUT YOUR PRIDE AWAY AND ASK FOR HELP BUT HERE I AM. PLEASE HELP PROVE MY INNOCENCE.THANKS EVERYONE AND GOD BLESS!!!!
As many of you know, Christopher Gerzeli has been struggling with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues for over three years, and it only worsened after the death of his beloved grandmother Thelma Whitaker in November of 2014. As of November of 2015, he had been off his prescribed medication and was self-medicating for several months. Due to his drug abuse, his behavior became out of control and on Thanksgiving evening of last year is when it all came to a head.
. His uncle, Johnny Whitaker, frustrated and with no more patience for Chris’ self-destructive behavior thought that Christopher needed some tough love and hopefully to be scared straight. On Thanksgiving evening Chris and Johnny had a confrontation which escalated to the point that Johnny decided to call 911, hoping that by calling the authorities Christopher would be forced into drug rehabilitation.
Christopher left the house to cool off before the police arrived and when the officer in charge asked Stephen and I and Johnny and his aunt Laurie, if we wanted to press charges against Christopher, we all stated, “NO” as we believed he was not a dangerous criminal but instead a very sick and drug-addicted young man who needed psychological/mental health support. We were told by the officer in charge that they would take him to the local hospital and place Chris on a 51/50 (a 72 hour hold) at the psychiatric ward for evaluation and detox.
Unfortunately that did not happen. Although promised by the officer in charge, they did not take him to be evaluated as they told us they would, but instead arrested him and ultimately charged him with two felony counts of Assault with a Deadly Weapon, which could mean two strikes charged against him! (In California we have a three-strike policy, which means one more strike and it’s 25 years to life in prison). Johnny and I spent two entire days at the San Fernando Court on Chris’ behalf to work with the mental health advocate at the court and his Public Defender. Even the D.A. agreed that Chris could not survive jail and that this episode was the result of both drug use and mental illness.
After spending almost a month at the Men’s Central Jail in downtown LA, we THOUGHT we made verbal agreements with the Deputy D.A. for Chris to be sent to a drug rehab program and to drop the charges to a misdemeanor. However, on December 21, 2015 when we appeared at the court for this plea hearing no one with authority from the D.A’s office to confirm the plea was there. The associate who was there had not spoken with her colleague regarding the deal we had agreed to. The best Chris was offered was to plead guilty on one charge and serve 2-5 years in prison and they would drop the other felony charge, thus “rewarding” him with only one felony strike!! Of course, that was absurd and completely and totally unwarranted, undeserved and unnecessary, as this was a first offense for Christopher.
Since no one with the authority to strike a deal was present, it was made clear that Chris would have to remain in custody for the duration of the holiday season. Fortunately, his own public defender and mental health advocate both admonished us to do whatever we could to get Christopher out of jail, since it was becoming a very dangerous place for him to be. He was being threatened with bodily harm. We paid his bail, which placed a huge financial burden on us, but it had to be done. Two days later Chris voluntarily chose to enter a 90-day drug rehab program.
December 23, 2015 was the beginning of his treatment. He has learned a very difficult lesson and his experiences have definitely scared him sober. He is now almost 11 weeks clean and sober, and this is the first time in almost 4 years that his mind has been completely clear from any kind of drugs and alcohol, and we may be finding that his psychiatric problems may all have been caused by drug induced psychoses.
We were able to see first-hand just how broken, lopsided, unfair and prejudicial our justice system is to the middle class and the poor. We watched those with serious charges be released into the public to await trial simply because they had paid legal representation. Chris didn’t and would have been remanded to the authorities. Jail was not a solution for him.
Christopher is looking forward to a fresh and sober start. His father has told me that Chris’ mindset is clearer than it has been in over a year. However Chris is anxiously fearful of what the District Attorney’s may do. Please understand that Chris’ uncle’s intentions were never to destroy or harm Christopher’s future, but to hopefully scare him into sobriety. Jail time scared him into sobriety, but unfortunately the justice system has now victimized all of us. Stephen and I knew that even though Chris’ behavior was out of control, he was never going to hurt us. We can only surmise that the D.A. wants to make an example of Chris by pressing forward with the charges, which we believe will ruin Chris’ chances for a successful future or fresh start.
Unfortunately, we can no longer put trust in our legal system, even the Public Defender has never seen this type of reaction by the D.A. against someone like Chris. We believe, after consulting with a number of defense attorneys, Christopher’s chances of having the current charges lessened is for us to hire a private defense attorney for him. Time is of the essence. Chris completes his rehab on March 23rd and his next court date is set for March 28th.
His dad has spoken with Christopher, and he is doing great in rehab, and he got Chris’ permission to set up an online fund raiser for his legal defense and he is 100% supportive of this venture.
After meeting with several attorneys, we believe we have found one from a local law firm here in Santa Clarita. He was a former prosecutor in San Bernardino. He is very familiar with how the prosecutors think and act. He has agreed to take on Chris’ case for $7,500 which is a lot less, usually $10,000 per charge.
We are reaching out to all of our family, friends and colleagues for any assistance you may have no matter how little or how big so we can raise the money necessary to hire the best defense for Chris.
Thank you all for all of your love and support!!
Kindest regards always,
The Gerzeli and Whitaker families (Dora, Stephen, Johnny, Laurie and Bill)
Carlos has now been charged for the incident that took place last Friday night. All of us who know Carlos, know that he is not capable of these acts and that if he says he is not guilty, he is not guilty.
The incident last Friday night will forever scar both of the young people involved, regardless of Carlos's guilt or innocence. Our hope is that the judge, jury, and public can see Carlos the way that we all do. As a kind, honest, hard working, young American man. And not just as another young Hispanic male accused of a crime.
This site has been created to help ensure that Carlos receives the best possible legal representation available and that he can post bail and remain free until his trial, which could be as long as 2 years away. We must raise $30,000 to post his bail, $20,000+ for legal fees, and another $5000+ to cover the listing fees for this site.
We truly believe that Carlos is innocent, and hope that we can raise enough support here to help make sure that he does not go to prison for a crime that he did not commit.
If we are unable to raise this money, Carlos will remain in jail until his trial. At trial he will be represented by a public defender who may not be willing or able to adequately represent him. If he is found guilty, he could be facing as many as 30 years in prison for the alleged crimes. Without our help. Carlos could be 51 years old before he is able to move past this terrible tragedy.
Please help Carlos. Please help give him the best possible chance to prove his innocence. Please help give him the opportunity to live his life and enjoy the freedom for which his family and all American families have made so many sacrifices.
EUGENE, Ore. -- Attorneys for Ammon Bundy, the leader of the armed militia group near Burns who was arrested Tuesday, spoke to KEZI 9 News in an exclusive phone interview, following Bundy's first day in court Wednesday.
KEZI 9 News Anchor Jennifer Richardson interviewed Mike Arnold and Lissa Casey of Arnold Law in Eugene Thursday morning:
Jennifer: "You met with Ammon, and he released a statement. What can you tell us about this statement?"
Mike Arnold: "It's important for folks to know, particularly at the refuge, that Ammon believes that everything that can be done there has been done. Now, it's time for a new forum in this citizen protest, and that's through the federal court system. People at the refuge need to remember that as a criminal defendant, there are certain rights to the discovery process. We will be able to subpoena records that the federal government has. We will be able to conduct a discovery, file motions to compel. We now have the powers of legal process. This case isn't about the First, Second and Tenth Amendments. It's now about the Fifth Amendment and due process. Lots of power to the citizen protesters comes from that amendment."
Jennifer: “Mike, you are an attorney here in Eugene. This is a very high profile case being watched very closely across the country. Why did you want to take on this, along with your firm?”
Lissa Casey: “You know, we're interested in the constitution. We're interested in individual liberties. We're interested in disputes between citizens and the government. And this case has gone on to a national debate about federal government interacting with citizens in the form of land management. But I think that it’s going to be an even larger debate. And we wanted to help.”
Jennifer: "I have in front of me here a 32-page complaint that was filed by the FBI and law enforcement. So, 32 pages that seems like a lot of evidence against these occupiers. Without giving away too much obviously, what kind of defense are you going to make for these men and women?"
Mike Arnold: "We can't discuss strategies and tactics at this point but what we can say is we will receive full discovery. There has been a lot of talk online from citizen protesters about what happened with LaVoy when he was killed, and we will know those answers soon. There will be videos. Of course, the FBI and the Oregon State Police, of course, they didn't go on this raid without in-car video and without body cameras, of course they did. We will get to see exactly what happened and we will get some answers about this process."
Jennifer: "You provided me this morning with an exclusive look this morning at a fund--the Ammon Defense Fund. Is this something that is normal in these cases that you would solicit funds for a defense?"
Mike Arnold: "I think it is becoming more normal, Crowdfunding is kind of the new process for citizen activism and citizen protest, so this is something from the Funded Justice website. There used to be another website available--for instance, the GoFundMe sites. They no longer do funding for litigation, so this is for citizen activists, so this is a good way for folks. And, hopefully, we will get enough bail raised so he can go home and start working and raise money for his defense."
Jennifer: "We understand that they will be in court tomorrow, Friday. Where do we go from here?
Lissa Casey: "Tomorrow the judge will determine whether Mr. Bundy and the others can be released while the case is pending, and that will be at 1:30 [p.m.], and then the next court appearance after that will be a preliminary hearing, which will be set for next week."
Original article published January 28, 2016 here: http://www.kezi.com/news/366852171.html
