15 Oak Street. B1
Crawfordville, Florida 32337
January 15, 2009
Greetings, my people,
Today I plead guilty to my charges, because I am guilty. The other option was to go to trial and have the evidence that I know they have presented and be sentenced, or take the risk of being sentenced for many more years than I would like to risk.
On February 19 at 12:45, I will be sentenced. It’s very important for my people to send those character letters ASAP – as soon as possible.
My current challenge is the jail where I am being housed. I am not being treated right and, as a naturalized Belizean, would like someone from our Belizean Embassy to intervene on my behalf. My attorneys and I feel I am being treated wrongly because I am holding the jail administration accountable for the treatment of inmates and the administration of the jail.
It is my intention to contact the British Embassy as well about my treatment.
The three final straws were as follows:
1. On January 14 between 1:30 and 2:30 a.m., I was awakened from my sleep and told to report to booking. I immediately thought there was a death in my family, only to find out that my sister had mailed underwear to me, and I was asked to take the required amount of underwear – 3 panties and 3 bras. The remainder (1 bra and 5 panties) were placed in my personal property. The next day I asked an officer why the mail could not wait until normal business hours. He suggested that I put my concerns in writing. I did, and have not received a response as yet. That was yesterday.
2. On Monday, January 12, I requested to make a call to my attorney in writing, since I was scheduled to go to court today, Thursday, January 15. I did not receive a response to the request. I asked yesterday and this morning to make the call. To date, today, I still have not been given permission to call my attorney.
3. This morning, Thursday, January 15, I was told to “roll it up.” That means you are leaving, so you need to roll your bed up. I was shocked. So I asked the officer if he was sure; he said yes. I gave away my personal belongings. An officer escorted me to booking with my personal property, only to be told that I was not leaving permanently. I was going to court. Since I have been booked at Wakulla County Jail on December 10, 2008, I have filled at least 6-8 requests and 2 grievances forms. Most of them were ignored.
I have informed both of my attorneys and the Federal Marshalls about the treatment of the inmates in Cell Block B1, which also affects me. This is a county jail and the federal government pays this jail to house me. When I am sentenced, then I would be sent to a federal prison in Tallahassee. My experience at another county jail in Ocilla, Georgia, was even worse.
It would help to get letters from my people, along with pictures/postcards. At first I didn’t want mail, but I have since changed my mind.
This is a real learning experience, and I am open to learning. I am really living in my strength and my life’s journey.
Always, with love,
Ya Ya
Power to the people
Thursday, January 15, 2009