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Pre-sentencing

Interview with Hillary, Tye, Eva, Richard and Victor

JM: Tell us about the pre-sentencing process:
Hillary: I violated my probation officer put out a warrant.I was pulled over and arrested.
Tye: i was held with unreasonable bail for months pending an investigation of my criminal history as well as past drug & alcohol use & ABUSE. I was denied reasonable bail even though I had very strong ties to the community. if you have any past criminal history at all you wont receive a fair trial.
Eva: it was horrible. i sat in county and public defender kept either not showing up for court or was never ready to proceed with my case. i was in county for 6 months before we finally got a sentencing date. my public defender denied me the right to have immediate sentencing and wouldn't even hear me when i stated i wanted to take it to trial. i was denied new counsel and didn't have the money to hire my own attoreny
Richard: I did'nt get sentence but was incarcerated for 15months and it was horrible, i seen one deputy (Deputy Smith(African American) beat up an inmate with his fists then started beating with him a walkie talkie, we were all locked down in Unit D1 for the next 4 days, The inmate ended up with the charges and the deputy remained working there. Infact they kept him working in the same working area(from D1 to D2) 6 days later. I really wanted to get this out in the open now that im public.
Victor: The whole event takes way too long. After getting arrested I had to go back and forth to the court room while hand cuffed for hours and hours. The time it takes is crazy long and nobody cares if your back hurts from the weird position o not. What can i say.?

JM: Did you have police stop by your house for questioning? If not please give us details on how you came to be arrested.
Hillary: No, I was pulled over.
Tye: I was arrested at three am for possession of burglary tools for have gloves a flashlight & a knife. they did not actually catch me breaking into any thing but under state statute necessary daily items are considered tools for burglary & the police use that and stack up as many charges as they can for plea purposes.
Eva: was in shower and back door to my trailer was unlocked when they entered my house without knowledge to me i was watched by 2 officers as i got dressed and placed in cuffs. i was then transported tothe county jail and booked in. i wasn't ever questioned or even read my rights. they stated because the warrant was issued i lost my rights to questioning
Richard: no they did not stop mee at my house, they actually found me at my parole office, the police heard i did something and questioned me i denied it all the way through and still got charged but not convicted, everyday i love how i didnt get convicted but these bullshit cops, judge and da all tried so hard to convict me in the lovely el paso county. but they didnt get the job done right, thank God for rights, NEVER waive your rights to nothing, the right to jury saved me.
Victor: the police came to my home to arrest me. It was a surprise to see them when they showed up but I went along with them no problem. It was startling for the entire house . my mom kept the jewelry I was wearing so it would not get lost in the shuffle.

JM: What was court like? Please give as many details as you recall.
Hillary: Sometimes it was video court from the jail. When I went to the courthouse I was in a holding cell until it was my turn to go in. There were 15 girls in a very little room with a disqusting toilet where everybody had to watch everybody else. This was the holding cell at the courthouse.
Tye: the da comes out swinging threatening to hit you with any thing they can and if they can they threaten you with habitual criminal acts which enhance the presumptive range on the sentencing phase of court. they will threaten you with years and years to get you to take a plea.
Eva: court was a nightmare. the judge was rude and because he couldn't stand my public defender i served the consequence of my public defenders action. i was given the maximum for my sentance and it was my first time ever in trouble. my public defender i felt was incompetant and refused to even listen to me
Richard: Horrible, they packed all the inmates in a crowded van handcuffed behind back, then we approach the judge in jumpsuits and handcuffs looking guilty, then when we're done with court and before court, we sit in a nasty holding cell sometimes crowded with 100 people. They fed us nasty sack lunches every single day too.
Victor: Court was too crowded. Men go first while women wait in a holding tank for hours on end. All while handcuffed behind my back. Very painful and uncomfortable. The court room was stuffy. The structure of the proceedings is hard to understand but of course I had absolutely no choice in any of the process.

JM: What were your original charges? What did you end up being convicted of?
Hillary: I was on probation for contributing to the delinquency of a minor, possession of schedule 2 and I forgot the third one. I was arrested for probation violation on all three charges. I haven't been sentenced yet. Still in the process.
Tye: possession of burlgary tools class 5 felony
Eva: current charge was unauthorized us of transaction device..charge remained same
Richard: Seexual assault, Convicted of nothing, i was falsely accused by a wtreched woman who constantly lied and got me locked up for her stories, i took it to trial and proved it alll
Victor: Felony 3 Robbery, Criminal Mischief and Heroin possession. Ended up plea deal for dropping all but worst charge of felony robbery

Read about sentencing in the El Paso County Jail