I hate the fact that I am responding to SAH at all, but I feel I must point out the following...
Yes, I have read details of Jeremy's court case, both what bought him to prison... AND the series of articles about the class action he is currently instrumental in, seeking to have mentally ill prisoners in U.S. prisons treated humanely (which they are not!)
Jeremy has lost 20 years of freedom, and, as is evidenced here... so SO much more than that - for 'saying hateful things'.
I have found since I first discovered your blogs that the depth with which your posts affect me is profound. And this one, of course, is no different.
A picture certainly does paint a thousand words, and these images are all unspeakable and very distressing to see. I can’t possibly begin to imagine how this treatment has changed the person you are today. I just believe that it must. Perhaps the most shocking image of all though, is the one that is not here, one we cannot see, and that is the resulting mental and emotional torture that has to accompany such shocking, senseless physical violence. I can’t say how deeply I feel for you.
After being confronted with (and upset by) these images of you today, I forced myself to process what I’d seen. And this is what came to mind. Firstly, how does someone overcome the effects of such horrendous acts and personal attacks and still feel humility – I don’t know the answer to that. Perhaps you can help me understand.
I couldn’t help but turn my mind to what it is that we actually consent to, when we sentence someone to a term of imprisonment. It’s something we obviously take far too lightly.
I felt deeply disturbed turning my mind towards those that did this to you. It would be easy to label them with many things – hateful, cowardice, or perhaps make judgments like, they don’t deserve to ever see the light of day… and perhaps they won’t, but my feelings towards them were complex also. I asked myself, what incredible amount of pain and turmoil they must carry with them to be capable of such hateful attacks, and what on earth has been done to them, to result in such outbursts of senseless violence. It would be understandable if you considered they didn’t deserve a second thought here, but your pain emanates so much further in my mind.
I couldn't help but think that even after all of the turmoil you’ve suffered, you continue to trust and believe in humanity and to advocate for others whom you describe as being in a worst position than yourself (which is difficult to imagine in itself). You astound me Jeremy. Your inner strength is overwhelming and I can honestly say, I am proud to know you. Your strength of character is certainly something I aspire to emulate throughout my life.
As I’ve said already, your posts affect me incredibly deeply. They create thoughts and feelings that I’m not normally confronted with in my day to day life and I thank you for that, even though I find them extraordinarily challenging. I encourage you to keep sharing your story and in the times when you need support, I hope you feel it from your readers, myself included. I want you to know that I feel privileged to know you.
Before you reach for your tissues, you may want to read up on Mr. Pinson. UNITED STATES v. PINSON Mr. Jeremy Vaughn Pinson, a mentally-ill inmate with a propensity for making grandiose threats, was convicted of one count of threatening to harm the President of the United States in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 871. Following his conviction, but prior to sentencing, he falsely told the district court that another inmate intended to kill his sentencing judge. Shortly after this, in a letter to the Chief Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma, he threatened to injure a juror who had served on his trial. He was charged with, and pleaded guilty to, one count of knowingly and willfully making a materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statement to a United States Marshal in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(2), and one count of mailing threatening communications in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 876(c). At sentencing, the district court expressed concern over the danger Mr. Pinson posed to the public. The court varied upward and imposed the statutory maximum on each of the three counts, to be served consecutively, for a sentence of 240 months imprisonment. He now appeals his conviction for threatening the President of the United States, as well as his above-Guidelines sentence given for the three different convictions. We affirm both his conviction and sentence, though not without some qualms about the latter.
I. Facts
On August 17, 2005, while incarcerated at the Lawton Correctional Facility in Lawton Oklahoma, Mr. Pinson sent President George W. Bush a letter through the United States Mail stating “YOU WILL DIE SOON! DIE BUSH DIE.” Indictment at 1. On May 17, 2006, following an investigation by the United States Secret Service, Mr. Pinson was indicted for “knowingly and willfully threaten[ing] the President of the United States by depositing in the United States Mail a letter threatening to kill and inflict bodily harm upon the President.” Indictment, at 1; see also 18 U.S.C. § 871(a). A Federal Public Defender was appointed to the case; Mr. Pinson filed a motion for hybrid representation, which the court denied.
I received a notification email when I was at work that you had posted something new. I logged on to see what you had to share... I now have tears streaming down my face, that just won't stop
I won't be visiting this site again until Mr Clarke is executed. I don't agree with the death penalty EXCEPT in cases like this. I am a grandmother raising teenagers due to violent crime.
VICTIM OF CRIME: I am raising my grandchildren. What were YOU thinking when you pulled your punk robbery? You have espoused about the hiring practices at your prison....anyone with a pulse gets hired. Why didn't you get a job? Instead you hijack a good sam and kill him.
As a grandmother (caretaker) of teenagers I'd like to see monsters like Mr Clarke executed. I work and pay to assure my grandchildren live a life that does not include *monsters*.
Mr Clarke - you need only to atone for the murder you are convicted of. The one you have repeatedly posted you are guilty of. The guilt post sounds like you are trying to *pin* your act on someone else. You commit murder (trial/jury) and you are on death row. I'm pretty sure your number will be up soon. Personally, I'll have a steak with baked potato when they execute you. I always make a salad and I'll do a mighty cobb salad in your honor.
why is this sob story any more relevant than the victim of your crime? You remember that murder, right? How horribly sad for this woman (her family). You and your father have committed the most heinous of acts. Go away, Mr. Clarke.
RSS
Yes, I have read details of Jeremy's court case, both what bought him to prison... AND the series of articles about the class action he is currently instrumental in, seeking to have mentally ill prisoners in U.S. prisons treated humanely (which they are not!)
Jeremy has lost 20 years of freedom, and, as is evidenced here... so SO much more than that - for 'saying hateful things'.
Are you not doing just that yourself SAH...?
A picture certainly does paint a thousand words, and these images are all unspeakable and very distressing to see. I can’t possibly begin to imagine how this treatment has changed the person you are today. I just believe that it must. Perhaps the most shocking image of all though, is the one that is not here, one we cannot see, and that is the resulting mental and emotional torture that has to accompany such shocking, senseless physical violence. I can’t say how deeply I feel for you.
After being confronted with (and upset by) these images of you today, I forced myself to process what I’d seen. And this is what came to mind. Firstly, how does someone overcome the effects of such horrendous acts and personal attacks and still feel humility – I don’t know the answer to that. Perhaps you can help me understand.
I couldn’t help but turn my mind to what it is that we actually consent to, when we sentence someone to a term of imprisonment. It’s something we obviously take far too lightly.
I felt deeply disturbed turning my mind towards those that did this to you. It would be easy to label them with many things – hateful, cowardice, or perhaps make judgments like, they don’t deserve to ever see the light of day… and perhaps they won’t, but my feelings towards them were complex also. I asked myself, what incredible amount of pain and turmoil they must carry with them to be capable of such hateful attacks, and what on earth has been done to them, to result in such outbursts of senseless violence. It would be understandable if you considered they didn’t deserve a second thought here, but your pain emanates so much further in my mind.
I couldn't help but think that even after all of the turmoil you’ve suffered, you continue to trust and believe in humanity and to advocate for others whom you describe as being in a worst position than yourself (which is difficult to imagine in itself). You astound me Jeremy. Your inner strength is overwhelming and I can honestly say, I am proud to know you. Your strength of character is certainly something I aspire to emulate throughout my life.
As I’ve said already, your posts affect me incredibly deeply. They create thoughts and feelings that I’m not normally confronted with in my day to day life and I thank you for that, even though I find them extraordinarily challenging. I encourage you to keep sharing your story and in the times when you need support, I hope you feel it from your readers, myself included. I want you to know that I feel privileged to know you.
Your friend, Nicki
UNITED STATES v. PINSON
Mr. Jeremy Vaughn Pinson, a mentally-ill inmate with a propensity for making grandiose threats, was convicted of one count of threatening to harm the President of the United States in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 871. Following his conviction, but prior to sentencing, he falsely told the district court that another inmate intended to kill his sentencing judge. Shortly after this, in a letter to the Chief Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma, he threatened to injure a juror who had served on his trial. He was charged with, and pleaded guilty to, one count of knowingly and willfully making a materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statement to a United States Marshal in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(2), and one count of mailing threatening communications in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 876(c). At sentencing, the district court expressed concern over the danger Mr. Pinson posed to the public. The court varied upward and imposed the statutory maximum on each of the three counts, to be served consecutively, for a sentence of 240 months imprisonment. He now appeals his conviction for threatening the President of the United States, as well as his above-Guidelines sentence given for the three different convictions. We affirm both his conviction and sentence, though not without some qualms about the latter.
I. Facts
On August 17, 2005, while incarcerated at the Lawton Correctional Facility in Lawton Oklahoma, Mr. Pinson sent President George W. Bush a letter through the United States Mail stating “YOU WILL DIE SOON! DIE BUSH DIE.” Indictment at 1. On May 17, 2006, following an investigation by the United States Secret Service, Mr. Pinson was indicted for “knowingly and willfully threaten[ing] the President of the United States by depositing in the United States Mail a letter threatening to kill and inflict bodily harm upon the President.” Indictment, at 1; see also 18 U.S.C. § 871(a). A Federal Public Defender was appointed to the case; Mr. Pinson filed a motion for hybrid representation, which the court denied.