Tell me about the Last day your son/daughter was free

[alex'smom]

never mind, too soon too share.

[me2009]

I agree! If there wasn't a God, I couldn't handle it. I'm new to this forum,(actually any forum). My son is in Palatka, Fl in prison. He was sentenced on Sept. 22, 2006. For a year before he was sentenced, we were working on opening a wildlife sanctuary on our ranch in Okeechobee, Fl. We had such high hopes. He is the only one of my 5 children who hold this dream. My daughter in law was 6 mos. pregnant with my twin grandsons. They already had a 14 year old son and a 5 year old daughter. They all lived on the ranch and we were all together everyday. We were such a tight family. All 5 of my kids were raised with good family morals and always wanted to have family gatherings. One year before Jody was sentenced, he accepted the Lord, and was baptised, the same day as his 13 year old son. Talking about a proud mom and grandmom! But, to go back, my son was hired by a man, Frank Rizzo, to do clean up on the east coast of Florida, after the hurricanes Frances and Jeanne. He worked for 4 weeks and drew 4 paychecks, which were all forged by the man who hired him. He told Jody that he had subcontracted under a company in Stuart, Fl. and they would be issuing the checks. Frank actually made the checks to duplicate the payroll checks used by the company. By the time it all come to a head, Jody had 4 warrants out for his arrest in 3 different counties. He had signed all the backs of the checks and used his D.L. for ID at the institutions where he cashed them. The judge threw the book at him, gave him 5 years. On the day of sentencing, my Mom, 89 years old, my daughter in law, and our pastor were there. We had hired an attorney and paid him $11,000 to represent my son. The state offered him 2 years and probation, and the attorney told my son not to accept it that he could get less if he threw himself on the mercy of the court. Well, needless to say, the judge gave him 5 years. That is a day I never want to relive. If God had not been in our lives, I'm not sure how this would have turned out. Oh, I have twin grandsons that are now 2. Praise the Lord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[boop's mom]

Welcome Me, that is a heartbeaking story, I can't for the life of me see how they found him guilty of anything. I hope that lawyer has nightmares every night!! I'm also in Fl and have nothing but contempt for the whole judicial system here. I just saw the latest statistics and we are over 100,000 inmates, isn't that to the point of overcrowding? Hopefully if they do anything to resolve this your son can benefit by being released early.

[NoAirMan]

I can still, almost smell, and feel, the tears. I felt a bond at that moment, my daughter, her tears and mine, as I hugged her after sentencing. I didn't want to dry my face. I just wanted to take my little girl home. But i couldn't. I miss her.

[me2009]

I know the feeling. All our children's lives we are their strength. When my son was sentenced, I felt weaker than I ever had in my life. I wondered where the strength to go on would come from, but I guess I was just a little cloudy minded at that time, God came through and we will make it. We had hired attorneys to fight it to the tune of $10,500 in addition to the $11,000 we initially paid. Every attorney ripped us off. We have left it in God's hands at this point. He will get out Dec. 2010 if nothing else works. I have become a stronger person for this. You guys hang in there, God loves you and has a plan. You may not understand what's going on, but it will all work out and you will be blessed in the end.