The jury, made up of bleeding heart professors and upper-crust trust fund babies who had never experienced violence in any form in their lives, concluded that the boy had “made it all up,” and that they “knew” it was impossible for the men to have gotten a gun because they both had criminal records and by law, “weren’t allowed to own guns.”

Being a former police officer, raised on the streets and the victim of much violence in my life, I knew I could walk out that door and buy a gun in less than 24 hours. I was stunned that they rejected the facts and tapped into their fairy tale lives to decide the fate of these two men. I finally convinced them (I was foreman) that the LAW dictated they must decide based on the FACTS of the case, not their opinions. When sentencing came they wanted the men to get 6 months, the minimum time. They “felt sorry” for the defendants and thought with less time they’d turn their lives around.

Recognizing how this collection of people thought now, I said, “Gee, they obviously have a drug and alcohol problem. If we give them 5 years they’ll get the drug and alcohol counseling they need to turn their lives around. They won’t get that with just 6 months. They need at least five to qualify for counseling.” Max was 10. I pointed out the boy would graduate and be out of college by then and “getting on with his life.”

That swayed them. The men got five years each because they believed that the men would get “counseling.” I was horrified. I think they should have gotten life, since that boy will be scarred for life from the rape. But….I knew then that ONE person CAN make a difference.

I’m glad you left Starbucks and wrote this.