The case of Jose Juan Ramirez (FVA025654) in 2005 at the age of 17, he was sentenced to life in prison under gun charges. Jose was a minor when the incident occured and was trialed after he became a legal adult at the age of 18. He has served 8 years in prison with no possibility of parole and multiple appeals denied. Jose wasn’t the shooter at the crime scene; he was the driver at the wrong place during the wrong time with the wrong group of "friends". I agree that Jose Ramirez should be punished for his involvement on gun charges, but a life sentence in prison is excessive and unjustified. Please read and understand his story as we ask for his case to be re-opened and re-trailed alone. Jose was not trailed alone; he was trailed with another defendant that has had multiple criminal involvements.

Jose Juan Ramirez (Age:25) is currently serving his time at Corcoran State Prison. He is the father of a 9 year old child. Before his involvement with the wrong group of friends, he had a part time job and was family oriented. Jose graduated from San Andreas High School in San Bernardino CA where he received his diploma and was beginning to further his education at San Bernardino Valley College in Art. His passion for drawing came at a young age where he would draw horses and post them on the walls of his room. Jose loved horses so much that he became the owner of two horses. If he wasn’t taking care of his horses or riding his families dirt bikes on the weekends, he would be found drawing or playing video games with his younger sister. Jose was baptized and finished his first communion and confirmation under the Catholic Church at the age of 14, Jose and his younger sister would attend catechism school every Sunday for two years. He was a popular young man and enjoyed interacting with other students. Jose has come to realize that he did fall into wrong paths as he surrounded himself with the wrong group of people, people that he now knows are not his friends and that the biggest supporters he has is his family. Jose has never had a tattoo and continues to be tattoo free. I write and include all of this information so you can better understand the type of person Jose really was and still is.                            

Jose currently receives weekly visits from his immediate family and many aunts, uncles, cousins from out of state, when they are not on lock down. It has been a really hard for Jose’s family coping with the unrealistic life sentence. During his time spent in prison, Jose has showed good conduct behavior, and helpfulness. He has taken business courses to try and study his case to get a better understanding on how he can reach a release date. Jose’s plans for the future are to begin a business he can run and create a family orientated environment for him and his loved ones. Please understand this is still a young man with hope and regret of his actions, and has learned that life and freedom is a beautiful thing that he would like to gain back to spend the remainder of his life with his family and daughter.  Jose had never been arrested or gone to jail prior to his life sentence in prison this has been his first offense and he was a minor when he was sentenced, the supreme court system waited for Jose to become an adult, at the age of 18 he was then trialed to life in prison with absolutely no possibility of parole. This is why we seek for your help and support for signatures to be gathered and sent to CA Governor Jerry Brown.                                                              

Many cases are wrongfully trialed and never heard; this has been one of them. I write briefly of my brother who has a whole life ahead of him. It only takes one voice to be heard in order for people to make a difference. California struggles with the highest  gun charges, and this case can make the one in a million difference to lower a life sentence on anyone who was wrongfully trialed. The difference made in one person can begin to open doors for many people. Please help me obtain as many signatures needed to properly present this case and let justice be done. We ask for a voice to be heard and a chance to be given that his case be re-trailed by himself. Please help me obtained at least 100,000 signatures to be sent to Governor Jerry Brown and Mayor Carey Davis (San Bernardino County, where the incident occurred) along with a letter asking for help to re-open, re-trail the case of Jose Juan Ramirez. Every signature is truly appreciated on behalf of Jose Juan Ramirez and the Ramirez family. We will continue to fight for justice to be done.