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Pre-sentencing

Interview with Eric, Dominic and Carlos

JM: Tell us about the pre-sentencing process:
Eric: Very unfair process for thing I did not do every thing was a lie but the judge will not listen to me, i got upset with him , it earn me more time . Justice system is very unfair.they do not give a chance to speak you mind. I am counter suing the other party.
Dominic: They basically interview you and create a report by the probation officer detailing your background and prior criminal record. It also includes comments from the you, victim, your attorney, the prosecuting attorney, and a sentencing recommendation from the probation officer. Most of the interview was asking questions about my background.
Carlos: Initially the police took me to the Main jail in Downtown for processing. They put me in a holding cell with about 15-20 other inmates, there you wait to be called for fingerprinting and told what your charges are. In the middle of the night they sent us to bond hearing where charges are formally read and the amount of bond. I could not bond out so the following day I was transferred to Metro West in Doral. There the cells hold approximately 80 to 120 inmates with one guard stationed inside the entire time.

JM: Did you have police stop by your house for questioning? If not please give us details on how you came to be arrested.
Eric: I went to the police station to tell them what is going on with my sister in law. I just went to tell the police to have my sister in law out of my house. So while i am at the police station a police car goes to my house , and my syster in law tells the that i try to kill her with a gun. She even said that i trew the gun ia canal. All lie and whe a woman says somithing like this police belive every word. It was all a lie but by the time the law find out she and my wife flew the country with all my belongings. Just imagine my life ruin on a simple lie. And the law do not even said sorry for the mistake they did. Simple, I just do not belive in the american system any more. I will be leaving this country after 45 years, I do not trust anybody.
Dominic: The police did not come to my residence for arrest. I was arrested subsequent a traffic stop for a traffic violation. I was speeding and got pulled over. After running my name in the database, it was determined that my license was suspended and therefore they arrested me for that.
Carlos: No, I was stopped by police in Hialeah. I was driving through Miami Lakes in the middle of the night. I happen to drive by an off duty police officer that lived in the area and was suspicious of me in that area at that time in the morning. He followed me for a couple of miles as I was heading towards Hialeah. He put on his lights and called for backup. Hialeah police showed up. They ran the tag of the car I was driving and it came back as stolen. I was already in cuffs before the tag came back stolen and they punched me around the ribs and stomach area, one of them hit me in the head with their radio. From there they took me to the main jail.

JM: What was court like? Please give as many details as you recall.
Eric: VerVery unfair process for thing I did not do every thing was a lie but the judge will not listen to me, i got upset with him , it earn me more time . Justice system is very unfair.they do not give a chance to speak your self. Very very unfair system, am extremly disapointed with it.I
Dominic: Court was somewhat a blur. The process involved being transported to attend court and going before the magistrate. It seemed to take all day because they got me up so early in the morning to go and i was gone for such a long period of time. I had requested my attorney to be present also.
Carlos: Going to court from Metro West is a nightmare. They wake everyone up at around 3 or 4 in the morning to load on buses to take to the main jail/court house. You get there around 7am they proceed to separate us by floor of court room you are going to. I sat on the floor of a locked hallway for a couple of hours waiting for my name to be called. They then put me in a holding cell next to the court room. When they were ready for me they lead me out to the court room. The first time was arraignment which is quick. They called my name, read my charges, asked how I plead and that's it. They set another court date sometime in the future, usually a few months.

JM: What were your original charges? What did you end up being convicted of?
Eric: I do not know i got very angry was not present at the moment.
Dominic: My original charges were speeding, driving on a suspended license and no insurance. I ended up pleading guilty to driving on suspended license.
Carlos: Grand theft auto and possession of burglary tools. Burglary tools was dropped and plead guilty to the Grand theft auto.

Read about sentencing in the Dade County Jail