6-13-19

Dear Reader,
Hey. I hope you are doing well!

Today I was going to share with you the details of my case. But after professional assessment, I have found it wise to reconsider the timing. For now, while I am still going through my appeal process, I will temporarily postpone this. I'll give you a simple summary.

I'm on death row for a hand-to-hand fight that led to the guy I was fighting to pull out a knife and attempt to kill me with it. Eventually, I was able to disarm him and I killed him with it. This was all happening after he killed someone else.

Well, I'm here so... The jury didn't believe me.

But recently I proved that I didn't commit a felony. That the person (prosecutor's star witness who said I committed the felony) was the one who did. It was self-defense, or stand your ground. It could have gone either way.

After my appeal is over (whether I'm free or still in prison), I will share it with all of you.

I will now tell you about my time in prison.

My first day I was beaten unconscious at the Lake Butler Reception Center. The Sgt. threw away pictures of my daughter, the artwork and songs I made, my account information, letters, and a set of gold fronts (pull-outs), and a few other things. I objected, and he threatened me. I stood my ground, requesting my property be mailed to my mother. He quickly walked around the desk and swung his fist at me.

He had to have forgotten that he didn't put me back in handcuffs and shackles.

I leaned back, and his knuckles nipped my chin. And then I stepped in and punched him three or four times. I watched him drop. And as he went down, this hot, sharp pain lit up the left side of my head and ear. I was disoriented, and another blow lit up my upper jaw, underneath my nose. I remember my body being jostled around on the ground, legs and feet. And I couldn't feel anything.

I awoke sitting in the barber's chair. Hurting all over. Chest, back, ribs, arms, head, mouth. The next several hours are a blur.

When I got to FSP (Florida State Prison) death row, several of the fellas that had been there a long time helped me file a grievance on it twice. But each one I turned in disappeared. I never heard back on any of them.

A few days later, my front tooth snapped. It was already puffy (gums), and the dentist told me that tooth and another tooth had been broken above the gum line. Remember that blow to my upper jaw? So both had to come out. They officially knocked out two of my teeth. :!

A year later, I ended up down at medical because I passed out in my cell late at night. The Cpt. asked me about that incident. He said my mom called inquiring about it back when it happened. No one ever told me this.

I studied civil law for the next several months so I could file a lawsuit. But i was never confident enough to file it properly and to keep up with it. It cost (back then in 2010-2011) $450.

I wrote the Florida Bar about it, and them helping me find an attorney to represent me. They said they didn't have any attorneys in the area. :!

FSP was extremely corrupt. A guy had a stroke on my hall (David Johnson, RIP), and we screamed for a medical emergency. The relief officer that was on duty just walked by with a smile on his face. Twice. An hour to 1 1/2 hours later, the regular officer did a body check (30 minute round) and saw him. Then he called for help. He was pronounced dead on his way to the hospital.

I heard one of the previous wardens cleaned it up pretty good for the sake of the prisoners who still live there. I hope so...

Until next time.

Yours truly,
Doug