B
bthompson39
Guest
What is the name of your state? North Carolina, incident, Maryland
My name is Bridget Thompson, I am forwarding a letter I have sent to everyone & anyone I can think of, please read & consider options;
I am writing today with the hopes that you may be able to provide me with some answers regarding the eligibility for services for an incarcerated friend in Hagerstown. I am aware that once someone exhausts their post conviction petition, options are minimal when it comes to reviewing a case for sentence reconsideration. As I am sure you are aware, once incarcerated, prisoners tend to become familiar with their rights and find what they deem injustices where there cases are concerned. I have been reviewing and collecting documents regarding the situation I write about today for many years now. I have come to the conclusion my friend’s chances for release may truly be a possibility, as all he needs is “a voice” to disclose his argument. The following is a short summary of my friend’s situation.
I am a full time student at Methodist College in Fayetteville, NC, majoring in Criminal Justice. I have a friend of almost twenty years who was convicted in 1996 on a first degree rape charge, in which he was sentenced to a flat sixty years. He filed a post conviction petition shortly after sentencing, in which he prepared himself, though representation was state provided, the assigned attorney failed to disclose the petitioner’s findings, therefore, the petition was denied. It was not until years later, however, that my friend began to realize he was not made aware of all his options pertaining to his case, in preparing for his original trial, which may very well have resulted in a different outcome.
My friend was assigned a public defender, who advised him to plead guilty. (I found this unusual, due to civil litigation, I would assume a plea of “no contest” would have deemed more appropriate). He was arrested in a halfway house without a warrant, and denied the right to an attorney throughout the interrogation process. This is all documented, as I have these documents in my possession. Furthermore, one sentence links the charge from second degree to first degree rape, as the “victim” claims my friend threatened her life. He adamantly denies this point. The phone company worked outside this woman’s house that day, and my friend was accused of cutting the phone line a technician severed. D & A evidence was inconclusive, the “victim” was unable to pick my friend out of a photo line up, (she stated the perpetrator was about 20, a blonde male, my friend, at the time, was a 40 year old brown haired man), and inconsistency is displayed in sentencing as well, though his sentence fell within the state’s guidelines, the average sentence for such a charge was 305 months during that time, and my friend received 720 months. Did I mention the judge knew the family of the victim, yet heard the case, anyway?
I have access to law manuals at school, but most of the information obtainable through these books relate to North Carolina. Maryland is one of the few states in which information is not available via internet.
My friend and I have been writing letters for years, and it seems no one is interested in helping him due to his current status of incarceration. If sixty years flat time requires thirty years time served in the state of Maryland, my forty seven year old friend will surely die in prison.
It is my understanding, due to overcrowding, new programs have been enacted as alternatives leading toward rehabilitation and release from confinement. I have been unable to locate any programs for which my friend may be a candidate. I am also interested in finding out what constitutes a new trial, (via new evidence), as well as sentence reconsideration, post conviction representation and anything else in which may help my friend in his (our) quest to reveal the truth, and relieve the suffering of his aging parents and troubled children, and my friend as well.
In sum, my concern is not only my friend’s unlawful arrest and conviction of first degree rape, denial of the right to an attorney, inconclusive D&A, inadequate representation, as well as unjust sentencing, rather his children are the other victims in this, and his twenty year old son needs him more than you could know.
I have known this man almost twenty years. I have continued to write him since he was originally arrested and held in the Carroll County jail. I believe in him, and trust his word. He has absolutely no reason in the world to lie to me, as I am his only hope at this point.
My friend has been arrested and served minimal time for charges such as driving while intoxicated and driving while revoked, and what he really needs is treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. He has suffered for his actions, is overwhelmingly remorseful for the part he did play in this situation, and I am confident this particular individual’s incarceration has indeed deterred any further instances of criminal behavior, including the use of illicit drugs as well as the consumption of alcohol.
I have exhausted my resources. I have written to over one hundred attorneys in the state of Maryland. I have been given many suggestions as to which direction to go, and contacting your office was one of them. No one is willing to pro bono such a case, and I am hardly in a position to finance representation, though I do act as my friend’s voice in a quest for justice. I am begging your consideration in checking into this situation, as your office is truly our last hope. I feel God has not sent me on this long term quest to fail my friend. We find ourselves representing this field seeking justice, then turning our backs on those who suffer most, in turn, promoting injustices within the United States court system. I have diligently fought to be heard, and am becoming increasingly aware of the importance of monetary gain rather than truth and justice being the overall quest of private attorneys. I beg a response, as it would be greatly appreciated, and I look forward to hearing from you. I thank you, in advance, for your time, and consideration.
Most Sincerely,
Bridget J. Thompson
My name is Bridget Thompson, I am forwarding a letter I have sent to everyone & anyone I can think of, please read & consider options;
I am writing today with the hopes that you may be able to provide me with some answers regarding the eligibility for services for an incarcerated friend in Hagerstown. I am aware that once someone exhausts their post conviction petition, options are minimal when it comes to reviewing a case for sentence reconsideration. As I am sure you are aware, once incarcerated, prisoners tend to become familiar with their rights and find what they deem injustices where there cases are concerned. I have been reviewing and collecting documents regarding the situation I write about today for many years now. I have come to the conclusion my friend’s chances for release may truly be a possibility, as all he needs is “a voice” to disclose his argument. The following is a short summary of my friend’s situation.
I am a full time student at Methodist College in Fayetteville, NC, majoring in Criminal Justice. I have a friend of almost twenty years who was convicted in 1996 on a first degree rape charge, in which he was sentenced to a flat sixty years. He filed a post conviction petition shortly after sentencing, in which he prepared himself, though representation was state provided, the assigned attorney failed to disclose the petitioner’s findings, therefore, the petition was denied. It was not until years later, however, that my friend began to realize he was not made aware of all his options pertaining to his case, in preparing for his original trial, which may very well have resulted in a different outcome.
My friend was assigned a public defender, who advised him to plead guilty. (I found this unusual, due to civil litigation, I would assume a plea of “no contest” would have deemed more appropriate). He was arrested in a halfway house without a warrant, and denied the right to an attorney throughout the interrogation process. This is all documented, as I have these documents in my possession. Furthermore, one sentence links the charge from second degree to first degree rape, as the “victim” claims my friend threatened her life. He adamantly denies this point. The phone company worked outside this woman’s house that day, and my friend was accused of cutting the phone line a technician severed. D & A evidence was inconclusive, the “victim” was unable to pick my friend out of a photo line up, (she stated the perpetrator was about 20, a blonde male, my friend, at the time, was a 40 year old brown haired man), and inconsistency is displayed in sentencing as well, though his sentence fell within the state’s guidelines, the average sentence for such a charge was 305 months during that time, and my friend received 720 months. Did I mention the judge knew the family of the victim, yet heard the case, anyway?
I have access to law manuals at school, but most of the information obtainable through these books relate to North Carolina. Maryland is one of the few states in which information is not available via internet.
My friend and I have been writing letters for years, and it seems no one is interested in helping him due to his current status of incarceration. If sixty years flat time requires thirty years time served in the state of Maryland, my forty seven year old friend will surely die in prison.
It is my understanding, due to overcrowding, new programs have been enacted as alternatives leading toward rehabilitation and release from confinement. I have been unable to locate any programs for which my friend may be a candidate. I am also interested in finding out what constitutes a new trial, (via new evidence), as well as sentence reconsideration, post conviction representation and anything else in which may help my friend in his (our) quest to reveal the truth, and relieve the suffering of his aging parents and troubled children, and my friend as well.
In sum, my concern is not only my friend’s unlawful arrest and conviction of first degree rape, denial of the right to an attorney, inconclusive D&A, inadequate representation, as well as unjust sentencing, rather his children are the other victims in this, and his twenty year old son needs him more than you could know.
I have known this man almost twenty years. I have continued to write him since he was originally arrested and held in the Carroll County jail. I believe in him, and trust his word. He has absolutely no reason in the world to lie to me, as I am his only hope at this point.
My friend has been arrested and served minimal time for charges such as driving while intoxicated and driving while revoked, and what he really needs is treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. He has suffered for his actions, is overwhelmingly remorseful for the part he did play in this situation, and I am confident this particular individual’s incarceration has indeed deterred any further instances of criminal behavior, including the use of illicit drugs as well as the consumption of alcohol.
I have exhausted my resources. I have written to over one hundred attorneys in the state of Maryland. I have been given many suggestions as to which direction to go, and contacting your office was one of them. No one is willing to pro bono such a case, and I am hardly in a position to finance representation, though I do act as my friend’s voice in a quest for justice. I am begging your consideration in checking into this situation, as your office is truly our last hope. I feel God has not sent me on this long term quest to fail my friend. We find ourselves representing this field seeking justice, then turning our backs on those who suffer most, in turn, promoting injustices within the United States court system. I have diligently fought to be heard, and am becoming increasingly aware of the importance of monetary gain rather than truth and justice being the overall quest of private attorneys. I beg a response, as it would be greatly appreciated, and I look forward to hearing from you. I thank you, in advance, for your time, and consideration.
Most Sincerely,
Bridget J. Thompson