My Son is currently serving a life sentence without parole for armed robbery, and I am reaching out to gather signatures in support of his release. This issue is deeply personal to me because he is my son, and despite the wrong choices he has made in his life, I know him to be a good man with a great heart. He has shown empathy for both those he loves and strangers alike. His transcript is more than 500 pages long, making it impossible to cover all critical details of his case. I'm touching on what I believe to be sufficient testimony to support this petition. He's 43 years old and has endured 20 years in prison, because he refused to plead guilty and admit to a crime he insists he did not commit. I do regret agreeing with him to not accept a plea, but I supported his decision. Otherwise he would've been home 6 years ago. His plea was to accept 12 yrs. admitting his guilt. He refused & got life without parole. It just seems odd/unfair that since he refused the plea, that's what his sentence ended being. 

It is undeniable that armed robbery is a serious crime. Nonetheless, it is also important to ensure justice is fairly administered. Alarmingly, there are cases where individuals guilty of more heinous offences, such as murder or rape, receive lesser sentences than my son. This discrepancy raises significant concerns about the fairness and proportionality of the criminal justice system.

In advocating for my son's release, I am not seeking to undermine the gravity of any crime, but to argue for the humane and fair treatment of all offenders. This plea is not just for my son, but also for a justice system that is just and compassionate, distinguishing between different degrees of crime and intent.

At the age of 14 he lost his Father & mentor in a truck accident. This took a heavy told on him, as he & his Father were very close. I proudly took on the role of both Mother & Father.  As we all know, no one can replace a parent, but it was a role I took very proudly & seriously. He was raised in a Christian home & has a strong relationship with God. He has no Grandparents left, but has the support of other family members. Me & his niece go visit him as much as we can. He is incarcerated in Georgia & I am now in South Carolina & it's a 4 hour drive one way. But as long as I'm able to drive I will always be there when I can. He knows he made some bad choices & has told me that whatever happens in life it is our personal journey to live & learn from our mistakes. And without doubt I know he has learned. He is very gifted with an amazing talent to write music. He said " Momma, I've always loved my music, but back then I wasn't ready. And if I had taken that plea back then, I would've gotten out when I wasn't in the correct mind frame to be fruitful for myself & others. He says he does regret not taking the plea, but that he had to be true to himself & fight for his freedom knowing whole heartedly he did not do what they said he did. There was another person that committted the crime that testified that he did not do it, but the courts did not believe the words of the person that actually did the crime. That person was released after serving 12 years.  

Twenty years in prison has given him ample opportunity for reflection, growth, and rehabilitation. He has been an exemplary inmate, and his behavior has demonstrated a commitment to reform. He has received his GED. He has mastered woodworking skills in the prisons woodshop among other awards. I believe strongly that he deserves another chance, and that he is capable of becoming a productive member of society upon his release.

I ask you to consider his case seriously and to sign this petition, advocating for his chance to be set free and share his experiences with others that may be making bad choices in their lives. He has a passion to be a speaker or even a Mentor to encourage our upcoming generation that their lives matter and making good decisions could save their lives. Join me in urging the authorities to review his sentence and bring about a more just resolution. Your support could make all the difference for him and countless others in similar situations.