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Pre-sentencing

Interview with Rachel, Paula and Lindsey

JM: Tell us about the pre-sentencing process:
Rachel: First, before you even get a lawyer, they put you in with people who want to be "jail lawyers". They try to get in your business and tell you what to do about your situation. The (jailers) expect you to discover the process on your own. No instructions are provided as to what the steps in the process are, ie get a lawyer, preliminary hearing, bail, court dates anything. I knew I needed a lawyer, but first I had to apply for a public defender, which I knew I could not qualify for. . .they don't tell you when you are doing this that if you 'fail to move on to the next step' you have to wait at least until that same day the next week do do the process over again. There is no "next day" or when people are available, you just have to wait. I am pretty sure they were just keeping me a long time becuase they thought I was guilty and they were trying to have me make friends and tell them the "truth" which would then be used against me. (OK do NOT say this doesn't happen, it DOES)
Paula: I had a presentence investigation through the Probation & Parole Department that took approximately 60 days to complete. I spoke with a parole officer for about an hour and a half and answered about 100 questions concerning my background and previous arrest(s). A forma report was then typed with copies being sent to the court, my attorney, and myself.
Lindsey: I was 17 years old at the time and homeless. I moved out of my mother's house at the age of 1 because she had drug problems my whole life and my father also had the same problems ad was never really in my life. I was dating a man that was almost 20 yeas older then me also at the time and he was arrested at the same time I was for other reasons. I was a clyptomaniac for sure. I could not go into any store without taking something. I would almost alwas bu something too but anything in my mind that that specific store was charging too much for I would take. It was just a really messed up way to justify it in my mind. I have definitely learned from m mistakes with that whole part of my life. What me and my boyfriend at the time started doing was stealing smaller items that cost alot, find someone to take the item back get a gift card worth $100 to $200, and sell the gift card for cash. I also got into stealing and selling ifths of liquor, which I sold for $10 a fifth unless it was a more expensive drink.

JM: Did you have police stop by your house for questioning? If not please give us details on how you came to be arrested.
Rachel: I had called 911 because of a vehicle accident, with injury.
Paula: I was an inmate at another state and county jail, specifiacally Hamilton County, Ohio. After that case was disposed of I was transfered and extradited to Boone County, Kentucky. I can say however that U.S> Marshalls showed up at my mother's house once an arrest warrant had been formally isuued
Lindsey: I was caught stealing bras in Jc Penny and was arrested in their security room by Boone Count Sheriff's department. It was the most embarrassing moment of m life. The police officers walked me through the middle of he entire store in cuffs so that everyone that seen me knew EXACTLY wha I was going to jail for.

JM: What was court like? Please give as many details as you recall.
Rachel: Well, I did the video thing, which was basically "nothing". You just say yes or no, respectfully, but you don't get to really speak of any details. My first live court appearance was after 30+ days, my bail was raised from $5000 (already paid mind you) to $100,000 and the first bail was just LOST. Court appearance they lowered my bail back down. My bail was raised because someone (who's sister is a BC deputy) bitched that it was not enough.
Paula: Court was a joke. It took almost 3 months to actually go to court and then the actual hearing to plead guiity took at the most 5 minutes with another 60 days after that to conduct a presentence investigation and to be formally sentenced. Spent MAYBE a total of 15 minutes in court.
Lindsey: While I was in jail I had to go to Municipal Court for a ticket I had received a few months prior to me being arrested. That was probably the second mos embarrassing moment in my life. I was the only inmate in the entire courtroom so ALL eyes were on me. I was in my black and white jail attire (very fashionable!!) and hand cuffs that were also connected to shackles.

JM: What were your original charges? What did you end up being convicted of?
Rachel: Origianlly: DWI. After the complaint, from the injured's boss, my charges were changed to attemped murder with a "weapon". The boss had complained because he owns a moving company, and one of his two guys couldn't work, and he was going to potentially lose a lot of money, so he said I tried to kill the injured person. Eventually, becuase of testimony from same injured party, I was able to "plea bargain" for a DWI.
Paula: Failure to make required disposition of property over $500.00 Receiving Stolen Propery over $500.00
Lindsey: My original charge was a felony in stealing and I was eventually convicted of two misdemeanors in stealing by the grace of God because if I had ended up with a felony I would of got prison time.

Read about sentencing in the Boone County Jail

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