GAME OVER!

My criminal career would come to a abrupt end on April 16th 2012. I was out on bail from 6 different pending cases. I was wanted for questioning for a suspicious building fire. I was expected in district court on this day to stand trial for yet another offense, trespassing and malicious destruction of property. The case was easily dismissed, I turned from the judges bench to look at the court room guests. Among them were three members of the Red Point community, two of which sat on the HOA board and one a prominent land owner within the community, each with their own personal vendetta against me. As I turned about-face, I faced the room with a smile, an arrogant smirk and a comment “try again next time”. I walked down the aisle and turned to leave the court room. As I approached the door to leave the courtroom, a bailiff and a deputy stepped into the open door and advised me I had a warrant for my arrest. My smirk was quickly removed.
I was detained. It was not my first go round with the process and I still thought I was smarter than the system. As I mentioned above, I was out on bail for 6 cases. The lowest bail was $5,500.00, with my most resent bail being $75,000.00. My mother who served as my greatest enabler had done her best to gain my freedom, leveraging everything she could to bring the money together. Most of the money was acquired from drug sales and things traded in the dark markets. A normal revenue stream at this point, sales were in the tens of thousands of dollars at the peak of doctor shopping. This time would be different. The game I thought I was playing was about to get very real. I was detained, and held without bail…

My world crashed, I had been pushed down a hole and I was headed for rock bottom. Within a week I would learn my fate and within three weeks that fate would be sealed. Court was in the middle of the week. April 16th was a Wednesday, I waited until the following Monday for a bail review. I was woken early by a corrections officer, advised of my required attendance and was hopeful for my outcome. It would not be what I expected. To this point no bail stood between myself and freedom. It always came to fruition, Mom would always find a way to protect her baby and dad insisted. I was moved to court holding to await my turn. Sitting in a large room with 10 other men in similar situations, I awaited my turn. One by one the names were called. I was close to last and that was never good. The judge overseeing the bail reviews that day knew me well. First and last name basis with easy recollection of my past offenses. She had done my bail reviews before and was going to make it stick this time. My name had been called and I was escorted by an officer. Into a room with a desk, camera, and a television broadcasting the judge. The bail reviews are all done this way, like court via zoom. The judge watched me approach the camera and greeted me by name without needing my paperwork. She awaited the paper work to see my offenses and made conversation with me and asked why I was back, what I was doing, and what I thought she should do.

She was presented with my paperwork and then she began. She read off my offenses one by one with brief description and asked for my explanation. I could give none, I was speechless to the crimes at hand. I could only feed her more sympathy doctored stories as to why I was the victim in this and not the problem. She saw right through my lies and deceit and set down her recommendation. Bail set at $150,000.00. I had court on May 5th. I knew I was going to jail and that was the deadline. I could not beat that case. It was for violation of probation and I had violated every rule they had in place. My probation came as a suspended one year sentence, that is what I was looking to serve on that charge and I wanted the chance to run, again. I needed out before the 5th of May. Close but no cigar. Mom found a way to put together the cash. With the help from some of my associates the money was there. Next was the kicker. Three signers for the bail. Three people of good standing, with good credit, was impossible for us. No one wanted to sign. The bondsman, whom I had run from for a 6 month stretch prior to this knew my game. He was not interested in playing again. The days ticked by and I panicked, locked away I sweated out the transition. Laying in a jail cell going through withdrawal symptoms. I was stuck, and there was no way out. The beginning to the end had started and it would only get tougher as my walk continued.

May 5th would come and go, I would serve seven sentences during my eighteen month stay Cecil County Detention Center. I would overcome personal tragedies, experience personal growth and realize the rewards of my actions. Where I was headed in life would be dictated by those eighteen months. I would meet some of the best and worst people during my vacation. The one that had the largest impact would be a local pastor. I would come to know this man well and he would serve as a leading role model for my future. Upon my release I went to stay with my Aunt in Port Deposit. That is also where the local pastor would preach on Sundays. It just so happened that my release from jail corresponded with their fall picnic. I would attend the picnic with my future wife in tow. The whole purpose was to mingle and meet like minded people. Among the people I would meet would be a local police officer. Only I didn’t find out he was a Police Officer for three weeks. This was my first encounter with law enforcement as a human and he treated me like a human. My mind was blown. My whole upbringing brought into question. I had just spent eighteen months with correctional officers, and even though some were decent, at the end of the day they were all cops. But this guy was different. He took a real interest in me and it changed my perception of law enforcement. Here I was just released, had confided my whole story to the pastor and this gentleman while talking and never once did I feel judged by this man. It would end up being quite the opposite. I would develop a close relationship with this man and his family for a time. He would serve as a strong mature male figure in my life. The bad had all been removed. There were countless men including my father whom had influence over my life prior to jail. These had all been removed and a void was left, it would fill rather quickly.