Subject: Surprise Court
Awaken for kitchen duty. I hope I am working with Beau, Seth, and David, but sadly, I don’t think Scott is in today. =/
Day 15 5/12/12
Wow, so I was called down to work in the kitchen today and was told when I got down that my roommate would be taking my place in the kitchen today because I have court at District Court today. I had no idea. I was not expecting to go to court today. Everyone who called the court last week to learn of my impending court dates told me I had the sentencing hearing and a parking ticket trial. I went to the sentencing hearing prepared enough to get the fine of $1240 converted into community service (124 hours) and I also got the parking ticket dismissed.
The only thing that I could imagine this would be about is that I received a letter at 75 Leverett St. of which Ian informed me during his visit. It apparently contained a motion by Chris McLaughlin, the city prosecutor whose office is at the Keene PD. The contents were apparently “the state ‘s” motion to destroy the evidence for the “Give Peace a Chance” trial (my pipe and cannabis). Since those items were taken from me without my permission and without a warrentand since I am now expecting a hearing on them, I will come prepared with at least one motion of my own to the effect of:
“I move that my property is retuned to me”
Reasons:
1. Seeing that the only alleged crime is my possession of a flower, and being in mind that the Keene Police have possessed it for longer than I had intended to, it should be returned to the person who possessed it the least.
2. I promise to “destroy” it immediately
3. It was taken unlawfully, without my permission or warrant.
Or a motion to preserve, at best:
“I move to preserve the evidence for one year of this case for the following three reasons:
1. I intend to bring this issue to court, on my own because I feel my rights were violated by its taking.
2. The State House of Representatives just this week voted again to in effect repeal the prohibition of the flower in question, making this property perfectly returnable to me in a time span, possibly as short as a few weeks.
3. I wish to pursue leagal action against the State of New Hampshire and more specifically members of the Keene Police and Drug Task Force for the crime of possession of marijuana, a charge which at this time they will not deny, but now that this is the case, they are trying to destroy the evidence.
The jail guard who taold me I had court today told me that I am not allowed to use the phone, now that I know I have court today because it could be a safety and security risk. He actually said he knows that since he knows my character, and especially since I am sentenced with only 35 days remaining, I am not a risk to plan an escape on my trip to court. Beau, who overheard all of this, said he wished to use the phone. Ha! How great it is to have Beau here with me.
Eventually to guard agreed after I told him I simply wanted to call “my puclicist” to let him know so that he can film court today., and I didn’t mind if he listened to the call. I called Ian but it was 5:45 AM and Ian didn’t answer. (I can’t say I would be awake enough to hear the phone at that time either). I will try again after breakfast and may also try calling Serena.
Okay, I got a hold of Michele Seven, my dream lover! I called immediately after breakfast, and she was able to get the word out to Ian, Pete, and Ademo. Ian said he would go since he would be at the court anyway doing Don’t Take the Plea Deal outreach. I was given a bag, and told to put all of my things inside, clear out my room and go to court.
I told him I would, but would he please double check to make sure I acutally had court because I was certain I did not. He said yes and came back a few minutes later saying he had checked with vbooking and yes, I had court today. I was escorted to booking, where I was changed out into my street clothes and waited for the sherriff to take me and 2 other guys to court. While waiting one of the corrections officers called me name and told me if had been a mistake – that I in fact did not have court today. I was changed bout of my street clothes and back into jail clothes and told to go back to cell block R.
I was told that the parking ticket for which I was being called to court had been dropped. Well of course it was – that was dropped weeks or months ago! Apparently, someone didn’t get the memo and had several guards and me jump through unnessasary hoops today.
Though an inconvenience, I am happy this means I don’t have to work today, I have the room to myself for a while, and best of all, I have a perfect record of having parking tickets dropped before reaching court in Keene. I have written 3 motions for court:
1. A motion to strike the States Motion to destroy evidence
2. A motion to preserve the evidence
3. A motion to return the evidence
Since the jail no longer allows inmates to use Microsoft Word and print pages, I have writeen these motions in my prettiest handwriting. I cannot, however, photocopy them myself, so I can not give an exact copy to the court and prosecutor. I asked the jail guards to please photocopy it for me, and they old me to wait, that they cannot do it, and I must wait until someone from “admin” lets them know if they can make a photocopy. Sheesh, is it really 2012?
Okay, hours have now gone by, and still no word. I have message safety and security, which is apparently the department to contact to file motions. I will wait until 7 PM before hand-copying each motion and mailing them myself. It is very frustrating the level to which I am being dicked over right now.
