I pray this message find you in good spirits and health. My filing for clemency relief is in no way lack of acknowledgement of the mercy shown to me by the trial court. The mercy shown by the trial court, however encouraged me to invest into my own rehabilitation. The mercy shown shown taught me that my rehabilitation potential wasn't ignored. Today before you I am a different man than the one that entered prison 21 years ago. My prison sentence when compared to others has been an inspiration. I feel I wasn't thrown away and it paid off for all involved. I'm asking for "commutation of sentence" in part as a testimony to show people in my situation do change with help from the criminal justice system. Philippians 4:5 "let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The lord is at hand." According to Illinois statue 730 ILCS 5/3-6-3(a)(2)(i) I am ineligible for an award of sentence credit. 

At the time of this incident, I was 22 years old and employed as a correctional officer with the Illinois department of corrections at he Joliet Correctional Center. Rather than waste my time while incarcerated, I had decided to take advantage of every opportunity offered to me for self improvement and rehabilitation. It is the best way I could think of to not only show that I take full responsibility for my actions also to rehabilitate myself. 

Since my incarceration I have been in the beginning stages of the building block once in Dansville corr. center and now in Graham corr. center, whose mission is to create an environment that fosters positive change through a series of mentor driven activities founded in core principles of respect, responsibility, ownership, community, and empathy.

I have obtained over 100 college credits at Lake Land College earning an Associates degree, I have completed Print Management, custodial maintenance, and was certified for 3 years in Mental Health First Aid USA. In doing so I was trained to provide help to young people experiencing mental health problems such as depression, anxiety disorders, psychosis, and substance use disorders. I attend Seminary College at Divine Hope Reformed in Dansville corr. center. I've participated in over 30 hours of the Global Leadership Summits, offered by Willow Creek Association via Telecast. I also have a certificate of participation in a two day Christian enterprise seminar and mor (30) certificates. I have worked numerous of jobs in and prior to prison. I am not the same person that entered the prison 2 decades ago. I am a man that walks with God.