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
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