from jack Parker from this Monday (August 25, 2008)

Hey Dan. I've had it on my calendar for a long time but unfortunately a job has come up on Stan's sentencing date. I am not going to be able to be there. I did however get to talk to Stan yesterday in New Tazewell. The one good thing about him being moved is there is no visiting list so I can get in to talk to him.
He's pretty anxious in there with a tougher general population though. The I.Q. and rationality average is much lower in this new jail. As Pat had told us before Stan has fabricated a weapons charges story to protect himself from the other inmates in his cell block. I was able to observe on the video camera the other guys walking around in his block. It reminded me very much of observing animals in the zoo. The guys seem to be wandering about bored and constantly sizing each up in a push for dominance. Stan seemed like a fox in the hyena pen using his brain and caution to ward off the testing looks. They are all in a common room for 12 hours of the day and the visitation screen and camera are in this common room. I could sense the intimidation factor when one of them and then several of them looked over at the screen and were trying to see who Stan was talking to. I stepped out of camera view just to give them nothing to harass him about. He said that two other prisoners charged with sex offenses made the mistake of telling the others of their charges at which point they were beaten to varying degrees and for their protection are now in solitary confinement. Stan was warned upon entering this new jail by a friend whom he had made in Blount county. His friend had arrived earlier than Stan and had seen what happened to the others and caught Stan as soon as he was admitted. All these observations made it clear that it is very real.
On an up note if there is one.. Stan did not seem down or beaten spiritually and seemed to be using his street smarts to stay on top of his new game of survival. He has figured out that to stay on the good side of the more volatile cell mates he has taken the role of a good listener and offers no information about himself. He is staying mentally active by writing down stories of the various people he is in contact with. Reading has been a welcomed respite for him too but the new jail is very loud with the 12 hour group time and he has had a hard time concentrating.
I am hopeful that he will be on the lucky side and only get the 5 yr sentence although it is quite infuriating hearing what sentences some much more violent and destructive inmates have received. This has been a real eye opener.
I intend to go see Stan again if he is put back in a jail where I can get to talk to him.
Thanks for keeping me involved in the information chain.
Jack

97 Months in Ft. Dix

Today Stan was sentenced to 97 months at Fort Dix, an Army base in NJ that also has a minimum/medium security prison on site. So, it's a good news-bad news deal. The bad is that the judge in his case could have sentenced him to five years, or 60 months. The good news is that he's headed for a base where he will be able to get outside on a regular basis, exercise daily, and have access to a real library. He may even be able to further his education while there. His brother and sister-in-law are both attorneys in AL and spoke eloquently on Stan's behalf. Stan was taken into custody months ago, looking like we all knew him to be: neat, in a nice suit, showing meticulous personal hygiene and wearing an awkward embarrassed smile as he tried to hold back his tears. Today, he arrived in stripes complete with chains around his ankles, wrists, and torso. His fingernails hadn't been cut in 8 weeks until finally one of the US Marshals relented and allowed us to give him the clippers. Today he looked older, very tired, and deeply depressed and sad. Even his brother Dan commented that he looked ten years older.

At the end of the sentencing, we walked out of the Federal Courthouse all pretty devistated. But we walked out into a courtyard filled with trees and flowers while Stan was lead back to a holding cell made of concrete and steel. None of us can imagine what it would be like to be in his shoes. Now more than ever, we need to show Stan that we care for him and love him. As far as we know, Stan will return to the Claiborne Co. Jail and will be allowed visitors each Monday. New Jersey is a long ways away, so if in the next few weeks you could take the time to visit him, it will give him good memories for a long time.

Here is a link to Fort Dix where he'll be in a few weeks from now: http://www.bop.gov/locations/institutions/ftd/index.jsp

1st Visit with Stan in Claiborn Co.

Last Monday I ran up to Stan's new digs in New Tazwell, TN. It's a really nice drive and mostly two-lane all the way. It's exactly 39 miles from Halls (North Knoxville) and took me about 35 minutes. The jail up there allows visitors only on Mondays from 9-noon and then from 1pm-3pm, but you have to arrive prior to when you want to see him. Since it's the only day, for all visitation, it's crowded up there sometimes and you have to wait your turn. They use video monitors up there so you don't get to see him in person, but on a wall mounted camera thingamabob that works OK but there is a lot of noise for both parties.

In the past when he was in Blount Co., it was only possible for three people to be on a list to see him. Now, anyone can visit him but only on Mondays and within the above stated time constraints. Since we don't know where Stan will be placed after his sentencing, this might be the last chance for many of us to visit him in the State of TN. Please try to go up there as he's pretty nervous about his sentencing and feels great when people actually come to see him. He has it in his head that no one will come and see him now that he's so far away.

Here is the link on google maps to find your way up there... It's very simple, just straight up Broadway and then a Right hand turn and you're there:

just copy and paste this into your browser:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=claiborn+county+jail+tn&ie=UTF8&ll=36.186659,-84.210205&spn=3.404711,3.262939&z=8&iwloc=A

Stan is in with the heavy felons now so he's asked us all to pray for his safety as well as for the upcoming sentencing on the 28th.

Stan is finding out who his friends are now; please write him up there and if possible, go to see him for sure...

thanks, Deacon Patrick :)

Stan has Been Moved:

We just found out that Stan has been moved up to New Tazwell, which is about 45 minutes North of Knoxville up Broadway. We are all hoping that this move will be a good thing for Stan as opposed to a bad one. He'll get a total change of scenery, different food (we hope), and new faces to get to know. Boredom is the main killer when you incarcerated. the fact that Stan hasn't had the benefit of new books as of late has been especially worrisome to me. I'll call the administrator tomorrow when they open and get some more information on visitation for both myself as well as others. Pray that Stan has seen all this as a good thing... I can't wait to talk to him about the ride from maryville to New Tazwell; it should have been an awesome thing for him to see the rolling hills of Tennessee after staring at concrete block for the last 120 days.... deacon patrick