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Pre-sentencing

Interview with Maria, Tommy, Mark, Marilyn, Rafael and Blair

JM: Tell us about the pre-sentencing process:
Maria: There was no pre-sentencing actally there was but didnt get to follow throg with my work progarm because i was doing time on another case and court still didnt take that into consideration
Tommy: guilty until proven innocent
Mark: went before judge, plead no contest, got sentenced
Marilyn: This process took several times to get through and the experience is not an enjoyable process. it requires sitting in multiple holding tanks, and spend hours just waiting. You are handcuffed and waist chained to other inmates. It amazes me how much of the judges time is wasted in the court process.
Rafael: Nervous, frustrated and mad
Blair: The pre-sentencing process is drawn out with postponements and negotiations. The courts do not make it easy to reach a decision or to get to a resolution. For me, the presentencing period took about three months. The District Attorney's office is overwhelmed with work so they were never prepared to proceed, thusly, the process took longer than it should have.

JM: Did you have police stop by your house for questioning? If not please give us details on how you came to be arrested.
Maria: well the police stop by for a parole sweep than a warrent pop up than i was taken back to custody
Tommy: no
Mark: was arrested after traffic stop, had warrant I was unaware of
Marilyn: they were doing surveillance on me for several weeks for check fraud. the choose to serve a search warrant on 3 places. They ceased items from all 3 places. Then since i wasn't at any of the places they served the warrant an officer called me and told me they had arrested my kids dad and i needed to come and pick up my daughter because she was with him and when i went to meet them i was arrested.
Rafael: No they didn't.
Blair: I was never questioned for my crime. I was made aware that files were charged by attorneys who were sending me junk mail so they could represent me. Prior to that, a search warrant was served on my residence, but they found nothing. One Sunday evening, two officers showed up at my door, asked my name, and asked me to step outside. I knew I was about to be arrested. They read me my rights and then informed me of my charges.

JM: What was court like? Please give as many details as you recall.
Maria: poor because upond relase they didnt give me no papper work to say that i was actally in custody for
Tommy: it was a whole lot propaganda
Mark: crowded, too many people, too few defenders
Marilyn: well i have been both in jail and going to court and out of jail going to court. I have also had a public defender and i have also had my own counsel. i see a lot of time wasted by attorneys and district attorney. I had an attorney and my case was drug out in court for over 2 years
Rafael: Long and frustrating listening to other people's cases. Embarrassing being shakeld in front of people.
Blair: Court was very impersonal and it seemed as if it was very routine. I had many court dates for my charges. Again, the District Attorney was never prepared so we had to trail the proceeding for several weeks while discovery was shared and my attorney had time to prepare my defense. In the end, a plea agreement was reached.

JM: What were your original charges? What did you end up being convicted of?
Mark: probation violation from 10 yr old dui
Marilyn: I was arrested on 52 counts of conspiracy to commit a felony. i was convicted of 3 counts of fraud
Rafael: Fail to appear court, driving with a suspended linces
Blair: I was charged with 2 counts of 261.5(c)

Read about sentencing in the Fresno County Jail