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Pre-sentencing

Interview with Katie

JM: Tell us about the pre-sentencing process:
Katie: Upon arriving at Wayne County Detention Center I was finger printed, strip searched and handed a bed roll consisting of a wool type blanket and 2 sheets...you can make a phone call before going upstairs to your bunk which is where you will wait until the first appearance (usually the day after you get booked) You will be given bail if it is available for your charges and unless you make bail you will be on 22-24 hr lockdown( the officers say its because they have toooo much trouble out of inmates otherwise) and you will be allowed out of your rooms(cell) for showers and to use the phones for short periods of time only. Visitation is allowed but you only get one visit per week. Your lawyer can see you at anytime however. You will eat and sleep in the same tiny cell and unless your lucky you will share that "4 man" cell with anywhere from 4-8 people. Single man cells can have 2 people in them. Keep in mind the cell only has enough bunks for either 1 or 4 people. You will not get a pillow and you will not be allowed to even see outside. This is a very rough process and one would think you would be treated better due to the fact that your supposed to be innocent till proven guilty. You also only get to change laundry once a week! That is by far the nastiest thing I have ever had to go through!

JM: Did you have police stop by your house for questioning? If not please give us details on how you came to be arrested.
Katie: The police talked to my ex first and then questioned me...we were called to come in and went. I was not arrested the same time he was and went for his first appearance and was taken into custody at that time. I was arrested for essentially not for what I did but rather for not assisting the police when I had the chance.

JM: What was court like? Please give as many details as you recall.
Katie: I was scared to death when I went to court for my first appearance and was given a $524,000 bond. I couldnt make bond and had to sit in county jail for almost 22 months. I signed a plea to testify and didn't have my own court proceedings, but still had to testify at my ex's hearing. The DA was relentless and the defense attorney tried to make me look like the bad person and unravel my story but as long as you stick to the truth you will always be in the right and the jury will see that. The courtroom wasn't very full and the Judge was understanding. All in all it wasn't as bad as I had expected it to be.

JM: What were your original charges? What did you end up being convicted of?
Katie: I was originally arrested for 3 charges(in the state of NC you can and will be charged with the capital offense (even if you are just an accessory) as the initial offender) my charges to begin with were as follows: 2 counts burning of certain buildings and one open count murder I was cleared of the burning charges and they were dismissed completely and I ended up only being charged with accessory after the fact to 2nd degree murder

Read about sentencing in the Wayne County Jail