My daughter, Heather Graham, could be your daughter. She was a hard worker - got the good grades and worked to save money. She served our country in Iraq where she was injured and fought to pick up the pieces, getting into law school after returning stateside. Unfortunately, through a series of events, all that work was undone through an addiction stemming from her war injury. Today I'm asking you stand with Heather, who could be your daughter or son, and ask the court grant my daughter rehab not jail. She has made mistakes, but she has also done more good with her life than bad and without your support she could go to jail.

Heather never took the easy route. Since she came into this world she has been a fighter and hard worker. She was born 1 lb. 9 oz., struggling in her first days and almost losing her life. When she wanted something, she felt she should earn it, holding a job since she was 14 years old. I had to get permission from the school for her to work part time - she wouldn't take no for an answer. In 2003 she joined the army and was sent to Iraq as an MP for the 4th Infantry Division.

Heather Graham served in Iraq and was injured both mentally and physically when hit by an IED in Iraq. She came back and was put on pain pills for years because of those physical injuries. She has also been diagnosed with severe PTSD. After becoming addicted to opiates, which were prescribed, she then started on heroin, unfortunately, and her life started on a downward spiral.  She has no prior criminal record and served her country and received an honorable discharge. When she left the Army, she worked for the Dept. of Justice and was a deputized US Marshall.

On May 29th, 2013, Heather was with Brittnee Johns, at a Narcotics Anonymous meeting. They left together around 12 pm and met up with Jason Gangle, a known drug dealer. They traveled to Cleveland and a few other places. The next morning, Brittnee Johns was found unresponsive in her bed by her mother. They blamed it on Heather Graham.

Heather was found guilty of corrupting another with drugs, a second-degree felony, as well as complicity and conspiracy to traffic heroin, a fifth-degree felony and corrupting a minor with drugs. During the trial, many things came to light that were obviously ignored. They made Heather out to be the dealer even though Brittnee had been texting Jason Gangle that morning trying to buy $140 worth of heroin.  She then text him back and said, "Never mind, I found some." She was also with a friend of hers, another heroin user, name withheld, that day and even posted it on her Facebook page. The police never even questioned that girl. Why not?

So why even bring charges against Heather? When the police questioned Heather, she gave them Jason Gangle’s name. She told them everything she knew, yet they turned the information against her. Jason Gangle got a 9 month sentence when he is a known dealer because he made a deal to testify against Heather. During the trial, he was caught lying by Heather’s attorney and admitted on the stand, “Yeah, I lied”, yet they still used his testimony to convict Heather. The court did hear evidence that Jason had another girl that OD'd at his house a couple of years ago.

Jason Gangle plead no contest to buying the heroin that killed Brittnee Johns, my daughter convicted for the same thing: He got 9 months and she’s facing 2-10 years in prison? What a complete travesty of justice. I think it is also important to note that Heather passed a random drug test given to her the next morning. They would only allow 1 person from the VA to testify. A DR. from the VA testified that she did pass this random drug test. Judge Kimbler, you even said yourself during the trial that there was no way that Heather could have known Brittnee's age. Why did you find her guilty? I don't understand.

Heather was in law school before this happened. The conviction has already ruined her life. She can never get another loan to finish law school. She will be a convicted felon for the rest of her life. She will always have a hard time getting a good job. What purpose does prison serve? I am pleading to the court for mercy for Heather. Please send her to rehab where she can get help and not a prison where she will sit there and rot. She's only 31 years old and can still do many good things.