This blog is moving!

Dear Friend of Justice,

I am moving this blog from blogger to wordpress because wordpress has so many more capabilities. My new blog is at bobchatelle.net.

I need to ask you to change your subscriptions. The subscription options are on the right at the new blog.

If you subscribe via email, it is not necessary to unsubscribe from the old blog. I will do that for you when I get the subscription notification.

To make it even easier for you, I can do the email subscription for you myself. Just email me to request this. If you do this, you will receive a confirmation email with a link that needs to be clicked.

Thank you for your cooperation!

-Bob

Bad -- but not unexpected -- ruling in the Shanley case

Dear Friend of Justice,

I learned today that Judge Neel turned down the new-trial motion in the Paul Shanley case. While this decision saddens and angers me, it was what I was expecting. I attended the trial and the hearing on the new-trial motion. Neel made it obvious that he didn't understand the issues involved, including the difference between repression and forgetting.

I have not read the decision and I am not in a hurry to do so. I don't want to lose my appetite completely on the day before Thanksgiving. If you have a strong stomach, let me know and I will send the document to you.

Robert Shaw, Shanley's appellate attorney, is intelligent, dedicated, and hard-working. I know that he will do a stellar job before the Appeals Court. My hope is that he will draw three fair, intelligent, and courageous judges.

-Bob Chatelle

More Pen Pals Sought

Dear Friend of Justice,

Recently I asked for a few people to write to the prisoner that I've been calling "Kevin." But there are a great many people behind bars who need correspondents. (I have a list here:

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzex11z4/prisaddr.html)

There are three I would like to mention whom I think would especially benefit from some outside friends.

One is Elsie Oscarson, wrongfully conicted of sexually abusing her own children. You can read about her case here.

Elsie's address is:

Elsie Oscarson
T80574 (Algon unit)
MCI-Framingham
P. O. Box 9007
Framingham, MA 01704

The other person is Ryan Smith, falsely accused at 13 and sent to prison at 15. (Read his story here.) Ryan is currently scheduled for release in June, when he turns 25. He needs help preparing for this transition. If you'd like to write to Ryan, please email me.

The third person is Paul Litchfield, another innocent person convicted in Berkshire County. You can read Paul's story here. Last Saturday, Paul's sister, Patricia, died after a long battle with cancer. It has been very difficult for Paul, not being able to be with his family at this time. You can send a sympathy card or note of condolence to him:

Paul Litchfield W80607 T103A
NCCI Gardner
500 Colony Road
PO Box 466
Gardner, MA 01440

In a couple of weeks, when the holiday season is upon us, I will post a message asking people to send cards to prisoners.

-Bob Chatelle

Another Visit to "Kevin"

Click on the picture to see all of it.

I visited my friend "Kevin" again on Friday. He had the prison photographer take a few pictures. He gave me this one to take with me, and I scanned it. It's not as nice as the original, but I think it's not that bad.

The more I find out about "Kevin"'s story, the more I'm inclined to believe that he was wrongly convicted. Unfortunately, his case would be nearly impossible to overturn.

For one thing, he has never claimed total innocence. He has always admitted to one improper act committed when he was 13. But he was convicted of many acts that I believe were committed by his brother.

His second conviction happened when he was 18. I now strongly suspect that he was the victim of a false accusation. But even if the alleged victim recanted, it's unlikely his conviction would be thrown out.

Kevin is now 23. His best chance for release is probably to admit to having done thing that he did not do. If he does not, he may spend the rest of his life behind bars. There is likely a conflict between the truth and the record. Unfortunately, truth matters little in a court of law. If "Kevin" doesn't play the game, he will be labeled "in denial" and have no hope of release.

I can provide "Kevin" with no legal help. All I can do is try to be his friend. But he needs more friends.

I have found a couple of people who write to him. But he needs more. Because I have no car, I can only afford to visit him at most once a month. I can't publish "Kevin"'s actual name. But if you think you might be willing to write or visit, email me at bobchatelle@gmail.com and we can talk about it.

-Bob

Greetings Again

Dear Friend of Justice,

We still await the Appeals Court decision on the Baran case.

Bee is holding up quite well. His partner David is still recovering from his major surgery. Once he has recovered, a second operation will be scheduled. David, of course, will be unable to work for some time. Bee has returned to work, but he had to take a lot of time off to care for David. This has caused a lot of financial problems for them. Supporters and John Swomley, Bee's lawyer, have been quite generous. If you'd like to help out as well, you can send a donation to:

The Bernard Baran Justice Committee
POB 190663
Roxbury MA 02119

David was well enough, I'm happy to report, to drive both of them out to western Massachusetts to attend the wedding of Bee's wonderful niece, Crystal. Bee gave her away at the altar.

Jim and I, unfortunately, were not able to attend because we were still on our vacation in Europe. If you'd like to see some photos of our trip, click this link.

I hope to post again soon with good news.

-Bob Chatelle

Greetings

Dear Friend of Justice,

I haven't posted to this blog for well over a month, for a number of reasons.

Primarily, Jim and I have been extremely busy all summer because we were forced to move. Packing was a major nightmare. Our lease on the new apartment began August 1st, but we retained the old place for the month of August as well. We had help from many friends during the early part of the month. And then, on August 15, we had five burly young professional movers, who took over seven hours to do the bulk of the move. We completed the move two days later and have been unpacking ever since. It appears a never-ending task.

No news in the Baran case. But Bee, unfortunately, is dealing with another very distressing situation.

Bee lives and works with a partner named David. A week ago yesterday David had to go to the emergency ward with extreme abdominal pain. He underwent a cat scan and was diagnosed with acute diverticulitis. The scan showed at least seven infected pockets.

The doctors tried to bring his white-cell count down before trying any procedures. But last Friday they did emergency surgery. He is having another procedure today. And eventually he will need even more surgery to reattach his colon. The recovery process will be long and he will need professional home health care. It is uncertain how much of the medical expenses will be covered by insurance because of the gross inefficiency of the new Massachusetts health-insurance system.

Bee hasn't worked for over a week. (Their boss, however, has been extremely supportive.) They have no idea how they will pay medical expenses, rent, or buy food and heating oil. But I'm confident his friends and supporters will get him through this. Of course it's always possible that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will decide to send him back to prison.

On a brighter note, while Jim and I strongly opposed the sale of our building, we did receive some money. (Not enough to buy another place, of course.)

I'm using some of the proceeds to go to Minnesota for a few days. My mother turns 88 on Thursday. And my niece recently gave birth to triplets. So there may be a family gathering to celebrate both events.

Later in the month, Jim and I will be taking a two-week vacation in Europe. (Barcelona, Marseilles, Paris, Avignon.) Long ago we had promised ourselves this as a reward should we lose our battle to save our prior home.

Should news break on the Baran case, I will post it ASAP.

-Bob Chatelle

Prison Legal News

Dear Friend of Justice,

A reader of this blog called my attention to the latest issue of Prison Legal News: http://www.prisonlegalnews.org/

I especially recomment the article by Marie Gottschalk, Not the Usual Subjects: The Politics of the Prison Boom.

-Bob Chatelle