All my life all I've ever known is the struggle, But I think God Almighty for the struggle, because in adversity we find our strength, and my struggles have made me strong, (Qawi). If you're reading this and you pray. Pray for me. Pray God grant me strength and endurance to persevere. Amen.

( The concept of ; Adversity) is a good way to start this post. When I was only 16 I was given a first hand lesson about "Adversity" by the state of Texas, in an ' adversarial process' titled: State vs. Albarado.

Remember I was 16 yrs. old when all this started. A ( child ) by legal definition in the state of Texas. I was supposed to be protected by the "mandatory" provisions of the Juvenile Justice code. (A non - Adversarial) guideline for the protection of youth coming into contact with Law Enforcement. The Texas Juvenile Justice code was drafted by our state legislators in light of cases like : 

Haley v. Ohio, 332 u.s. 596 in re Gault , 387 u.s. 1

Kent v. U.s. 383 u.s. 541. (See Lovell v. State, 525 s.w. 2d 511).

In all of these cases the courts went to great lengths to differentiate the "criminal" process from the "Juvenile court" process. Catagorizing the Juvenile court process as a (Non-Adversarial) process and emplementing special protections for the youth of America. With the role of the Juvenile court as "Parents Partre" ( i.e. Guardian & protector) for our youth. The reality of the situation being so far from the truth. Hundreds of thousands of youth have been wrongfully and maliciously filtered into adult courts and adult prisons. Labeled as adversaries of the State, and subjected to all the tragedies and stigmas associated with adult prosecutions and convictions. I am one of these youths.

On may 14 , 2005 Abilene police forced their way into a residence with guns drawn and violent threats. I was placed in restraints and escorted by two uniformed police officers down the street to a marked patrol car. Red and blue lights blinding my vision as detectives and patrol officers were instructing "witness" along the street to identify me as the shooter in a street fight where shots had been fired. (Disregarding my DNA not matching to the DNA found on the murder weapon or any gun residue on my hands or clothing)

From the scene I was escorted to the police station where I was placed in a small 4 walled interrogation room equipt with a one-way-viewing window. I was held here for hours upon hours with no parental access and no attorney. Armed police officers interrogated me in-between extended periods of isolation and more one-on-one identification procedures. APD brought several hostile witness to identify me thru the one-way-viewing window as I sat alone in the tiny interrogation room.

I was repeatedly told these procedures would not stop until the police received the information they wanted. Engulfed by a sense of terror and fear, and in a flood of tears, I admitted to everything the police accused me of. From that day forward my fate was sealed. I was given no presumption of innocence, no due process, and handled like a juvenile adversary of the state. The evidence collected by APD in their illegal custodial investigation was the basis for my certification and transfer to adult courts, and the same evidence was used as the basis for my conviction in criminal Court. As a result I was sentenced to 30 yrs. confinement in TDC. Where I've been for the past 10 yrs. Fighting against corrupt administrators and the gangs for survival.

There is so much more to the story. This is only a small portion of the events that transpired in tragedy titled: state vs. Albarado. Due to time & space I have to end this here. If only there were people to take the time to look and listen to this whole tragedy. Maybe then Justice would be served. Until then I'm here, and I'm strong, Fighting for my freedom.

At the age 16 I was stripped of all my constitutional and statutory juvenile court protections, denied all forms of due process, and sentenced to 30 years in prison for a murder I DID NOT COMMIITT.Please sign this petition and share it with all your family and friends. We need at 100,000 signatures for the courts to recognize this case. please help and God Bless You All.

Thank you all 

Juan Manuel Albarado

 If you are interested in reading more on this story then click on the links below. The Ribbon: Drawn by Juan M. Albarado at age 17. http://www.meetup.com/en AU/NFOJA-meetup/photos/679770/ 10875249/ America Today: http://westtexasbeat blogspot.com/2008/08/america- today-entry-for-august-18- 2008.html?m=1 Anita Guajardo: http://www prisontalk.com/forums/archive/ index.php/t-164078.html http:/ /westtexasbeat.blogspot.com/ 2006_12_01_archive.html?m=1  Lance, The Chaplin at The Taylor County Jail: http://thelancereports blogspot.com/2008_08_01_ archive.html?m=1