the first degree for the transferred car
titles in Georgia.
Auto Theft Detective, Pete McFarland, made sure he showed up at
every hearing or court date that was scheduled. Phaedra promised me that everything would be over before I knew it. She gave me her word that she would look after my family if things went sour. Phaedra also explained and decreed that if anything happened to her, we would all lose. That was already understood. I said, “Just get me out of here Phae! I got to get home to my
babies.”
In the courtroom, I stood handcuffed and shackled. My big belly
was protruding and bumping into anything in its way. My hair was nappy and braided straight to the back. My mother and Aunt Carrie sat inside the courtroom that day. They watched and listened as Phaedra pleaded our case. She was a great attorney, and did try her best, but what the hell happened to her influence? And what happened to the secret society amongst lawyers and judges? Superior Court Judge Matthew Simmons sentenced me to serve five years in the state penitentiary. I watched my mother fall to her knees. I broke my mother’s heart that day. She cried like a baby as the Sheriffs led me away
in handcuffs. My big bell y and all walked out of there. That was it!
I was startled by the fact that I was going to give birth to my baby
in prison. From that moment on, I made it my only concern to cherish every moment with my unborn child. I talked to her, and I read to her. I would sing to her while I rubbed my belly. I knew I would have to give her up at birth, but I wanted her to at least remember my voice. Five years sounded like a lot, but I knew I wouldn’t have to serve the full sentence of five years. I had committed a non-violent crime. In the case of non-violent crimes, every day you served earned you three days toward your sentence. That meant I would only serve eighteen months.
My mother did not know that. I can’t imagine how much she was
stressing about my five-year sentence. She was thinking that her baby was gone for one thousand eight hundred and twenty five days. It wasn’t the case and I couldn’t wait to get back to the housing unit so that I could call and
calm her nerves.
Unfortunately, the process would take at least six hours. Although
all prisoners were housed in the basement of the courthouse, we would not be transported back to the housing units until each and every prisoner saw the
judge that day.
My hips hurt, my back ached, and I was constantly in severe pain. The baby’s weight in addition to my own weight was all pressed up against a cold hard steel bench. This was just too much and proved to be unbearable. Jail was made to be uncomfortable and t hey have definitely managed to pull
that one off without a hitch!
Lying down on my right side with my belly hanging over the bench,
I had a roll of tissue under my head serving as a pillow, and the uniform that I was wearing was my only cover. Cold air was blowing from the vents. The four concrete walls connected to a steal door reminded me of being in a dungeon every time it was opened and closed. This was nothing short of
modern day slavery. It is what it is.
My meals consisted of two bologna sandwiches, one pack of
mustard, warm milk, and a hard sour orange. I had to force myself to eat in the same cell with the crack-head who had just got off of a thirty-day smoking spree. Keep in mind that everything was inside the cell, including the toilet. She smelled like rotten flesh. Now she had all day to take a dump, but she decided to wait right good until I was about to eat to do so. My baby and I both nearly starved while I was incarcerated. I just couldn’t eat in there! I was always nauseated. I’d be absolutely sick to my stomach.
I began to mentally prepare myself for this latest journey I was
embarking upon. I had been to prison before so it wasn’t that bad for me. This time was way different however. I had never given birth while I was incarcerated. Here
titles in Georgia.
Auto Theft Detective, Pete McFarland, made sure he showed up at
every hearing or court date that was scheduled. Phaedra promised me that everything would be over before I knew it. She gave me her word that she would look after my family if things went sour. Phaedra also explained and decreed that if anything happened to her, we would all lose. That was already understood. I said, “Just get me out of here Phae! I got to get home to my
babies.”
In the courtroom, I stood handcuffed and shackled. My big belly
was protruding and bumping into anything in its way. My hair was nappy and braided straight to the back. My mother and Aunt Carrie sat inside the courtroom that day. They watched and listened as Phaedra pleaded our case. She was a great attorney, and did try her best, but what the hell happened to her influence? And what happened to the secret society amongst lawyers and judges? Superior Court Judge Matthew Simmons sentenced me to serve five years in the state penitentiary. I watched my mother fall to her knees. I broke my mother’s heart that day. She cried like a baby as the Sheriffs led me away
in handcuffs. My big bell y and all walked out of there. That was it!
I was startled by the fact that I was going to give birth to my baby
in prison. From that moment on, I made it my only concern to cherish every moment with my unborn child. I talked to her, and I read to her. I would sing to her while I rubbed my belly. I knew I would have to give her up at birth, but I wanted her to at least remember my voice. Five years sounded like a lot, but I knew I wouldn’t have to serve the full sentence of five years. I had committed a non-violent crime. In the case of non-violent crimes, every day you served earned you three days toward your sentence. That meant I would only serve eighteen months.
My mother did not know that. I can’t imagine how much she was
stressing about my five-year sentence. She was thinking that her baby was gone for one thousand eight hundred and twenty five days. It wasn’t the case and I couldn’t wait to get back to the housing unit so that I could call and
calm her nerves.
Unfortunately, the process would take at least six hours. Although
all prisoners were housed in the basement of the courthouse, we would not be transported back to the housing units until each and every prisoner saw the
judge that day.
My hips hurt, my back ached, and I was constantly in severe pain. The baby’s weight in addition to my own weight was all pressed up against a cold hard steel bench. This was just too much and proved to be unbearable. Jail was made to be uncomfortable and t hey have definitely managed to pull
that one off without a hitch!
Lying down on my right side with my belly hanging over the bench,
I had a roll of tissue under my head serving as a pillow, and the uniform that I was wearing was my only cover. Cold air was blowing from the vents. The four concrete walls connected to a steal door reminded me of being in a dungeon every time it was opened and closed. This was nothing short of
modern day slavery. It is what it is.
My meals consisted of two bologna sandwiches, one pack of
mustard, warm milk, and a hard sour orange. I had to force myself to eat in the same cell with the crack-head who had just got off of a thirty-day smoking spree. Keep in mind that everything was inside the cell, including the toilet. She smelled like rotten flesh. Now she had all day to take a dump, but she decided to wait right good until I was about to eat to do so. My baby and I both nearly starved while I was incarcerated. I just couldn’t eat in there! I was always nauseated. I’d be absolutely sick to my stomach.
I began to mentally prepare myself for this latest journey I was
embarking upon. I had been to prison before so it wasn’t that bad for me. This time was way different however. I had never given birth while I was incarcerated. Here
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