My story

I spent the night in jail last night. I am 61 years old, white, and a homeowner and taxpayer (albeit not always on time) and I spent the night in jail. That was the second time for me, the first being when I was fifty. For a brief period I was a cop in the 1960's. I have used many drugs in my lifetime. I always said when I turned fifty I would get someplace quiet and reflective. The lights in that twenty four hour hell were very reflective, but it was not quiet. The screaming and shouting went on night and day. I ate food I would not give my dog. My first offense? I went to a police sting to buy cocaine and was arrested for two felonys, even though I never even saw any cocaine. I was charged with Attempting to Purchase and a second count called Soliciting to Sell Cocaine. They had me on tape and the best I could do with a private lawyer was a year on probation, 100 hrs. community service and a fine. Felony adjudication was withheld, meaning my 'rights' were left intact. Eleven years later, Friday the 27th of April, I was popped in another sting. You would think I would have learned from my first experience, but anyone that truly believes that does not know the power of drug use. The cops used fake crack for the sting, and brought down at least 25 people I saw. We were herded like cattle through the process. It was a most efficient way to make money for the cops here. This same weekend I found out at the booking that they were running a prostitution sting, taking advantage of those weak victims. I was charged with soliciting sale of cocaine and tampering with the evidence because I swallowed their fake drug when they took me down. Total bond? $8,500.00 I got out yesterday morning thanks to my wife of sixteen years and a bondsman. I cried all day, decompressing from this experience. I am going to fight this all the way to the courthouse this time. I will not bend over again for the goddamn system this country has created. If they want to give a disabled man jail time for a twenty dollar fake rock of coke, then so be it. As was said above, if one lives outside the law they must be prepared to be responsible for themselves. Thanks for letting me vent, David et al.