July 10, 2003

Subject: new job

Hey Everyone!

I have not written in a while --so thought I would let you know what has been happening with Rob.

As a result of my letter to the White House, things have actually improved a little for Rob. The lieutenants who threatened Rob while he was in the hole are now under investigation themselves. Rob's job at the big prison was cancelled because of that. He never has to deal with those guys at all anymore! :)

Rob is pretty happy because he did get a new job as a landscaper. He was so excited the other day when he actually got to drive a landscape vehicle!! He hasn't been behind the wheel in a very long time.

There has been some turnover of inmates which has helped Rob as well. He says mostly older guys are coming in and they are hardly ever trouble makers. He still has had some trouble keeping his bed from getting liquid dumped on it --so apparently the person doing that is still there. He has a few friends there again though and is feeling a LOT better in general.

Rob's final reply to the motion for resentencing was denied, and he is just about ready to get the next one mailed out. It's not much, but he could actually get into the halfway house within a month of sending that --which is still three months better than that date he is looking at now.

As for my letter to the White House; they forwarded it to the Department of Justice/Bureau of Prisons guy in Washington, Michael Cooksey. He requested the report Rob had to sign a release for. Then he wrote me a reply based on the information in Rob's files. Obviously they left out the parts about the threats, mind-games, and lack of evidence to charge Rob in the first place. I wrote him back, but only discussed the unresolved issue of my visitation rights. They had told him I took the prison photo of the web site from the parking lot and they insinuated I had a camera with me during a visit. I sent him the original photo of the prison building with the yellow stripes of the (public) road way and offered him some other information that should straighten things out. He would have received my letter yesterday; so if he chooses to do the right thing, I should be visiting Rob again soon. What are the chances he will do the right thing? Only time will tell I suppose. I will let you know if things change.

Thanks for your continued concern and support! :)
Shannon