My sister Janice Marie Singleton was sentenced to 20 years hard labor in August 2009 by a Louisiana judge. Her sentence was based off of her previous record which had absolutely nothing to do with the current charges brought against her by the DA. Janice and my other sister Shelvia were brought in for questioning in 2008 after Shelvia's ex-boyfriend reported a shooting to the police. At the police station Janice and Shelvia both gave alibis to where they were and they both were tested for gun powder residue. Neither one of them tested positive for gunpowder residue so one would think that neither one of them had fired a gun a few hours before being apprehended.

Both of my sisters were bailed out by our family and my parents hired lawyer. When the District Attorney (DA) received the case, she reviewed the previous records of both of my sisters and dismissed all charges against Shelvia because she had no criminal record. She decided to indict Janice, we believe this was due to her past criminal history and the fact that her history would increase the probability of a guilty verdict.

As Janice prepared for trial, she along with her lawyer decided to opt out of a trial by jury and to have her case heard by Judge Donald Johnson. Before the trial began, Judge Johnson fell ill and could no longer preside over her case. During this time Janice and her lawyer made the decision to recant her previous request for a trial by judge and asked for her case to be heard by a jury. The new judge denied the request and went forth with the trial. Janice was convicted in a week with no evidence. The DA did not have a liable eye witness testimony; there was no gunpowder residue and no weapon. Prior to the trial the DA threw out the gun charge because they never found a weapon. Although I have never been to law school I'm smart enough to know that a person cannot attempt to murder someone by shooting at them without a gun. This judge found my sister guilty before her trial ever started. It's apparent that he did not want her to have a trial by jury because there is no way a jury of her peers would have found her guilty based off the lack of evidents that was presented by the DA.

When the judge sentenced my sister he said a few things that did not need to be said to anyone by a judge. I will paraphrase because I don't have the transcript handy. He basically told her that she did not have anything to offer to the world because she did not have any kids and she did not have a career. Due to our work schedule we were not able to attend court but my mother was and he implied that she did not have a family that cared about her because my mother was the only person in the courtroom with her. He stated that my mother was only there because she had paid my sister's legal fees. He basically dismissed her from the world as if she was nothing and devalued her family because of what he perceived without knowing all the facts. It was as if he had something personal against my sister. If my family would have thought that our presence in the courtroom would have made a difference in her conviction or sentencing, we would have swarmed the courtroom.

My family has been fighting this battle for the past 5 years and we are currently working with a 3rd lawyer who is requesting for my sister case to be heard by the Supreme Court. Our voices have been loud trying to get this sentenced overturned but apparently it has not been loud enough. We are soliciting the help of anyone who is willing to get my sister back into court so she can have her fair trial. We are continuing to pray and keep the faith but it has been a tough 5 years. Our family was sentenced on the same day as Janice and we are ready to be released from this sentence. Please HELP us!

Thanks in Advance