I want to acknowledge and commend Mr. Bruce McEwen for the bold journalism displayed in his report in your Off The Record section on March 3, 2010. I respect anyone unafraid to call a spade a spade and not shy away from the facts and truth of matters of importance. It troubles me that other reporters and publications do not act with an aggressive voice to protect and make aware the citizens in this country of their constitutional rights and force the courts, government officials, law enforcement, etc., to abide by the Constitution and laws which they are bound to. The freedom of the press is a very powerful engine, one on which the citizens of this country rely heavily for action and information. The courts or anyone else should not be allowed to ignore any of the Supreme Court rulings, government and state laws, and Constitutional amendments without consequences when deciding on the interests, welfare or fate of any one person, group, or organization in this country.

In my case it is frightening to learn that the Mendocino County justice system is doing whatever it chooses to do with no regard for my rights and the specific duties and obligations of court-appointed defense counsel in a criminal proceeding. For a black man — myself — to be told in an all-white courtroom that it is fair and that I have not been wronged by a public defender who refuses her obligation to conduct necessary investigations, call and contact expert and alibi witnesses, file motions critical to the defense, etc., etc., is not only outrageous, but demoralizing.

I mean seriously, my public defender, Ms. Linda Thompson, has done absolutely *nothing* for me. I’ve been incarcerated for 19 months and I have *never* spoken to her over the phone and she has only met with me on *two* occasions for a total of 50 minutes. The depth of these errors is so critical that the National Bar Association has now gotten involved.

Yet it is the trial judge who has the power to enforce and protect my constitutional right to a fair trial and competent and effective assistance of counsel. However, so far he has failed to do so. I have since convinced the court to allow me to represent myself (in pro per) and relieved Ms. Thompson as counsel. Of course, this is not a move I am absolutely comfortable with, being that I am ignorant of the laws and processes and I am now officially solo.

But truthfully, I’ve *been* solo and without effective attorney assistance since I was arrested. So what’s the difference? Can I really do any worse than the nonexistent lawyer? Sadly, the answer is yes, which is the number one reason the court’s rulings should be scrutinized. A person should not have to take such extreme measures to receive justice and fairness. But that is why I say that journalists like Bruce McEwen and publications like the Anderson Valley Advertiser are extremely critical to the American people. They give a voice to the little people like myself who refuse to remain tightlipped by a court system such as the one in Mendocino County which is doing as it chooses and operating entirely in the dark without caution.

I hope there is someone out there who is willing to investigate my story and cast light on the situation. Otherwise, one day it will be your friends and family members tangled in a system where the people appointed by the court to defend you are merely district attorneys with public defender business cards.

Glenn Sunkett

Oakland/Ukiah

I was just about to write you to see if you knew whether the documentary “Rivers of a Lost Coast,” featured at the Anderson Valley Film Festival is available to the public or not. Then I found an article on the film in the January 2010 issue of Salmon and Trout Steelheader magazine. The article explained how the two young filmmakers and steelhead flyfishers, Justin Coupe and Palmer Taylor, created their very successful documentary. Their film is endorsed by several pro fishing conservation groups and has been made available for conservation fundraisers. The DVD comes with a 42-page booklet containing original articles, historical photographs, interviews, biographies, production photographs, and original drawings by Bill Schaat. Hopefully by the time I get out of prison I will be able to rent this video. Their DVD is available for $29.99 at www.riversofalostcoast.com

My associates and I here at South Soledad Prison have all really enjoyed your book “Mendocino Noir.” We’re hoping that you are working on book number two. My heart goes out to Jody Lesiur your (“Killed Without Dying”), Skye Nickel (“Tree Rustling, Fort Bragg Style”), the Orr Sisters and family (“The Great Fort Bragg Which Hunt”), James Denoyer’s poor starving horses (“Where Are They, Jimmy?”) And especially to Russell Rexrode (”The Hunter As Prey”). Russell Rexrode’s life got turned upside down for doing the right thing. Rexrode handed a month-old mountain lion cub to a Fish and Game warden and was rewarded with a search warrant being served on his home. The end result for Rexrode’s efforts to do the right thing was the cost of thousands of dollars in legal fees and his right to hunt being taken away for ever.

My mother has sent me several newspaper articles on “Lil’ Smokey,” the bear cub that was rescued from the Moon Fire in Trinity County by CDF Forester Adam Deem. Deem didn’t get in any trouble for turning “Lil’ Smokey” into the Fish and Game Department. In fact, Deem is known as a hero for “rescuing” the bear cub. Deem and his wife also made a children’s book called “Saving Lil’ Smokey,” a true story that tells the story of Lil’ Smokey.

After talking to friends and loved ones living in the real world outside prison about how hard it is surviving, raising children, finding employment in this bad economy out there, I keep telling myself, “It doesn’t get much better than this.” But I still want to get out, of course. Where else can one live rent and bill free? Where else can one get free medical and dental work done and not have to pay for medications? Where else can one be supplied with clothing and have their laundry done weekly for free? Where else can one sleep as much as one wants with no responsibilities? Where is the value of the dollar worth more?

When I say to myself, “It doesn’t get much better than this,” I am only trying to make myself feel better about being stuck in this prison.

Lance Scott

Soledad

I would just like to thank you for sending me your paper and continuing with the awesome work on your end. I only know that it is a pleasure to have your paper passed through my bars by some stupid correctional officer each week.

Conditions are [bleep]ed here in Quentin. It’s dirty, crowded and the staffing rating is mediocre at best. People go home after their release dates about 75% of the time, which makes me wonder: is there any hope for my release?

Thanks for your time and concern.

Yours always,
Cameron Hammond
San Quentin

I hope all is well there. I was not going to write this story because the last one had me ending up in the office and needless to say I came out on the short end of the stick. But I can’t just sit here and do nothing; that would be so wrong. I must do what I must do.

Let me fill in those of you who have no clue: this sad story comes from inside Mule Creek State Prison’s mental holding tank, in Ione, California. This is a prison setting. We have five buildings packed with men here, three of them with 240 men and the other two with 200 men. These buildings were built for 100 men each. There’s also the gym which is triple bunked with 160 more men in it. I call it “the homeless shelter.”

Truthfully, there is little room to even defecate. With a total of 1250 men on a yard built for 500 it is cramped to say the least. It certainly is not a place to treat anyone with mental health issues. The two buildings with 200 each are known as EOP, Extended Outpatient Program units. These are the worst off in the way of mental health issues. They are in very bad shape. Most of them need to be led to the showers and told when and what they can and cannot do. They need to be pampered like eight-year-old children since nobody knows when they might just go off. One of the worst things is when they do go off there is a “code.” The correctional officers wear little boxes on their sides and when one hits the button a loud alarm goes off and we all must sit down as the guards come running from all directions to get in on the action. Unfortunately, if you are one the one on the other end of the baton and can of gas, you lose. Remember, these are men who are mentally ill. There is not much anyone in here can do but show them a little compassion. But there is little to be found.

I have read quite a bit about the lack of mental health treatment in Mendoland or worse yet at the Low Gap Hilton. Please don’t turn your back on these men who are in real need. We lost a couple of good men not so long ago due to no one hearing their cries. Suicide was their only option.

I understand the values of the California Department of Corrections, but to physically and/or mentally abuse anyone is wrong and I have seen abuse that should get a person put in prison. The point is these are mentally ill people who might be your grandfather, father, son, grandson, uncle, or just a guy you once knew. But you probably don’t even know any of these men so does that mean you as a human being can just turn your back on this neglect and abuse?

Most of these men are on heavy medications like Thorazine and other psychotic medications. Some are court ordered to take shots to keep them stable and the medication comes very easily. All one must do is ask and anyone can get most anything he wants. The problem is they will give you about all you want. But knowing when enough is enough is the problem.

We have men here who have no clue whatsoever just why they are here or even where I Ione, California is. All it takes is a person to have a little compassion to see just how wrong it is to keep some of these lost men here. Some of you may be able to just turn your backs on the situation. But for me to just to reach just one person who may be helped is all I seek. But also to expose the lack of care for those who are mentally ill and locked up.

Please don’t get me wrong. There are some psychiatrists and psychologists here who go way beyond the call of duty to help these troubled men.

I have befriended a couple of these men in EOP for good karma in my life. It can be very trying as they can be “way out there.” I have a friend I will call Richard. He is a father and an all around good person. Just why he is here is beyond me and I could not care less. Over the last five years I’ve spent a lot of time with him talking about everything. Some of it was legal stuff because he has been to law school and was a bright man. I say “was” because he has been in the EOP program for couple of years now and things have deteriorated very badly for him. They said he had dementia. I never noticed that at all, not until they put them on a number of medications. Now he cannot even tell me the date or the year. This is so hard to see right before my eyes as he is a kind, big hearted man who has no clue about anything. How sad it is to know his family has no knowledge that their daddy is being so neglected. There are many, many more men right here at this fine nuthouse who are suffering and alone.

I am sure that some of you from good old Mendoland still remember the Talmage State Hospital. I don’t know the number of men and women they had there, but now a hell of a lot of them are in Department of Corrections custody. These corrections officers, no matter how they may look at them, are not trained to deal with those who are mentally ill. The system is a complete failure, not only to the ones who need help but to the taxpayers.

Now you know a little more of what goes on behind these walls and even as wrong as you and I know it is, it just keeps going on. It is wrong in every way. It is wrong for just one more judge to sentence another man or woman to the California Department of Corrections who has a mental issue. You must do what you must to live your life with karma, good or bad. This is just a warehouse for those who are truly sick at a cost to you of about $50 grand a year each, and that is just to babysit us. That does not include treatment of mental or medical issues for most of us.

I hope I have shined a little light on what is going on in this world here. This letter is a plea for a little compassion for those of you out there to try and understand just what it is like to be put in prison with a mental health condition. I plead and pray that you do not turn a blind eye to those who have been shut up inside for so long. Step out of your comfort zone and do something to help just one person who is struggling with the biggest challenge in their lives. You may have a family member who is locked up in a mental hospital or you may know someone who is. Please take it upon yourself and drop them a card or letter so they know there is someone who still cares about them out there. I hope just one of you makes some sort of contact with a person who is so lost in the system. This may be their last chance.

Peace be with you all.

Mark Sprinkle K-24619

PO Box 409040-B-gym-110-L

Ione, CA 95640

My name is Glenn Sunkett. I am an African American citizen and Oakland California resident who is being illegally detained, prejudiced, racially discriminated against, inhumanly traded, and a constant subject of cruel and unusual punishment inside the criminal court system and detention center here in Ukiah, California.

I have been convicted by a 12-person jury (comprised of 11 white bodies and one Middle Eastern body) on charges ranging from kidnap to burglary (of four white victims) in a marijuana related crime that lacked sufficient or substantial evidence against me to support a verdict of guilt. Although racism combined with highly questionable tactics and unlawful conduct by the investigating detectives, prosecutor and local media played a significant role in influencing the jury’s decision, it is my court-appointed attorney who is mainly responsible for dictating the outcome of this case and violating my constitutional rights.

From the start of Ms. Linda A. Thompson’s tenure as my public defender, she has actively worked against me without camouflage. And I have made certain to document in detail Ms. Thompson’s refusal to provide effective assistance of counsel as well as her incompetence, neglect and conspiratorial behavior. (Please refer to below for a list of some of Ms. Thompson’s failed responsibilities and questionable actions.)

I have petitioned vigorously to the court to relieve Ms. Thompson as my court-appointed counsel but my pleas are being denied by the court without my being given any explanation or case law whatsoever to support this decision. I am literally being forced into representation by a court-appointed public defender who is openly acting as an assistant prosecutor against her own client. I have presented overwhelming evidence, case law and sufficient reasoning that supports my claims against Ms. Thompson. Yet, the trial court continues in its unexplainable failure to relieve her as my defense attorney. And the adamancy of the court continues even after I hired a private attorney to petition the court for her substitution.

One must seriously consider the motive behind the judge who forces court-appointed representation on a defendant who prefers private counsel when there is an open conflict of interest between the chosen public defender and the defendant. This is a blatant denial and violation of my constitutional right to a fair and impartial jury trial. Gaining a conviction in this mock trial setting should be viewed as a farce or a sham and should also be considered invalid being that my fate and outcome of this case was obviously preconceived outside of the courtroom.

Sadly, the courtroom is not the only place Ms. Thompson failed to protect my rights and well-being. During the duration of my detention at the Mendocino County Jail, I have been constantly subjected to racial discrimination, racist remarks, cruel and unusual punishment, inhumane treatment, deplorable living conditions, physical torture, and mental abuse. My family and I repeatedly begged for Ms. Thompson to intervene and take action against jail staff for their illegal and inhumane conduct and tactics, but were vehemently ignored during this time. I felt as if I was in Guantanamo Bay.

For months I was being chained up like a dog in leg irons, belly chains, and handcuffs and *forced* to take showers in this manner. I have been forced to live in a cell specifically used for the mentally ill and deranged that, upon my arrival, was literally painted with another human being’s feces, blood, urine, semen, snot and spit. To this day I have never been given the proper cleaning supplies, sanitizers, disinfectants and protective body covering needed to safely occupy this cell.

Also, I was initially placed in a 24-hour a day lockdown unit strictly because of my race. Racial segregation is implemented at this facility in which minorities are the only affected parties. I was denied the right to participate in religious services and congregation of my choosing and excessively disciplined due my being “black” and detained on a marijuana related robbery in a pro-marijuana farming county.

But what I stated in this letter so far still cannot express the depth and magnitude of this horror story. I have over 500 pages of thoroughly detailed documentation supporting my claims and I am willing to provide them to any person or organization interested in helping me bring the needed attention to this matter.

I should add that starting February 10, 2010 and I will begin a hunger strike that I will not end until I’m granted my constitutional rights to fair and impartial court proceedings and court rulings in my conviction is overturned based solely by the laws the court is bound to.

Being that I am in a meet in immediate need of assistance, advice and support I ask that all concerned parties contact me at 951 Low Gap Road, Ukiah, California 95482. You may contact my private attorney, Geoffrey Fletcher, at US Bank Plaza, 980 Ninth Street, 16th floor, Sacramento, CA 95814. All responses and or other action will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Mr. Glenn Sunkett
Ukiah

PS1. Attachment: Things my public defender did/did not do pursuant to her obligatory duty as outlined according to the California Defense Advocate:

1. Failed to move the Court to dismiss charges due to insufficient evidence of a supporting nature that resulted in my being tried and convicted of crimes that never occurred.

2. Failed to object to an unduly suggestive and highly illegal identification procedure which resulted in my being implicated in a crime in which I had no knowledge of or participation in.

3. Failed to conduct an investigation into the prosecution’s allegations and clients alibi which is necessary in presenting a meritorious defense.

4. Failed to call expert and alibi witnesses which were both critical to the defense at trial.

5. Made it *my* obligation to conduct and *pay* for the services of a cross race identification expert needed for their expertise at trial. Again this is a public defender charging a client to retain experts as well as other needed services.

6. Failed to file motions to suppress evidence that had no relation to the crime yet was used in a suggestive manner against her client at trial.

7. Refused to communicate with me in *any* manner whatsoever in the months leading up to trial and led to a withdrawal of a meritorious defense.

8. Allowed and assisted in investigative and prosecutorial misconduct.

These are only 8 of 31 issues and errors made my made by my public defender.

PS2. Declaration to commence hunger strike demonstration on February 10, 2010: This declaration is being made in protest to the fact that my constitutional rights are being violated in the Mendocino County Criminal Court system and detention centers so severely and unjustly that evidence supports that I am being illegally detained and discriminated against. In addition to the commencement of a hunger strike I am also refusing to leave my cell for all reasons excluding interviews from the press, attorneys and investigators. This demonstration will start on February 10, 2010, and end when my public defender Linda Thompson is removed from my case as defense counsel for reasons of ineffective assistance of counsel and or conflict of interest, new counsel is appointed or retained, fair and impartial court proceedings are conducted according to the Constitution and rulings made by Mendocino County judges are based on the laws in which they are bound to protect, enforce and adhere to. Not before then will this peaceful and justifiable protest end.

A blessing in disguise!

Do I have any friends? I’d like to know. / Because the friends that I have they hurt me so. They lie and steal, they stab me in the back. / If these are true friends, then where is the love at? My wife, she cheats, a slut you might say. / I haven’t touched her in months but she has sex every day. My kids have my eyes, but not my smile. / They curse like sailors and that’s not my style. My father disowned me because I had to be fed. / I think I’m adopted — well that’s what I read. I was sentenced to five years for something I didn’t do. / They showed me a mug shot of someone who looks like you. My life has been shattered and I’m falling apart. / It’s hard to be humble with malice in your heart. Well, my mother loves me at least that’s what she will say. / It was for my own good, that’s why she went away. I’m telling you folks that my life is a mess. / But the chaplain says, man you are blessed.

Larry Wilson
Soledad

I wrote this while I was in Mendocino County Jail wishing that I was out fishing on the beautiful Navarro River with my son Noah. I thought you would enjoy it.

Navarro — It’s 5am and my alarm wakes me up. I brew up some coffee and I pour me a cup. I wake up my boy and I pack up our gear. “Go to sleep in the truck, I’ll wake you when we’re near.” We drive down the coast as the sun starts to break. We talk about how many casts it will take. As we reach the Navarro and look for our first spot, we reminisce about all the big steelies we’ve caught. There’s cars at the best spot and the second spot too. So we know exactly what we need to do. We go to Hendy Woods Park to the big log of safety. We walk through the redwoods as it’s light enough to see. As we reach the great hole we walk with all care, knowing that if we are loud, the fish we will scare. Because it rained last night the water is a clear “snappin’ green.” But as we peer into the log hole there is no fish to be seen. I tell my son to cast right up there and let it drift through so he puts on some roe and knows just what to do. He casts where I suggest and to our surprise his rod doubles over and he looks back to my eyes. The fish races downstream as Noah edges over a hump. How many times will this silver beauty jump? The fish fights really hard but only for a while. As Noah feels the fish tiring he gives me a smile. Noah eases the great steelhead into his two hands at last, posing for a picture with my camera’s flash. He removes the barbless hook and resuscitates the fish slow. He is only too happy to let this fish go.

Lance Scott
Soledad

I came across your newspaper through a friend and even though I have never lived in Anderson Valley — Healdsburg was the closest I came to it — I feel an appreciation and a concern for it and the people who live there. I also like the fact that you cover real news and topics that interest not only the local community but also add to a deeper understanding of relevant issues.

I’m sending you this letter out of concern about a letter from Tanner Furia Miller in the December 16 edition entitled Why Bother? The tone and content of his letter was very hopeless and depressing. I checked subsequent issues hoping that someone else, someone who knows him, would have responded to him by now but so far that hasn’t happened.

Maybe I misread his intention and it was a sarcastic statement or maybe it was a cry for help. I don’t know this person and my perspective is probably different than what other readers would have.

You see, I’m currently living in a government-operated gated community — Correctional Training Facility, Soledad, California. I’m not a career criminal. In fact, it’s my first trip to the system and I can tell you that life is wonderful even in here. Not that life is better in here. It is what you put into it. It’s the attitude you carry around with you and it’s what you do with your talents.

We bother with the problems of life because we care about what happens to each other. Find your love and dedicate yourself to it. Go to church. Cultivate a group of friends and always be the first one to reach out. It’s hard sometimes but in the end it always works out.

Best wishes,

Marco Castillo
Soledad

A basketball in my hands is worth about $19. A basketball in Michael Jordan’s hands is worth about $33 million. It depends on whose hands it in.

A baseball in my hand is worth about $6. A baseball in Mark McGwire’s hands is worth $19 million. It depends on whose hands it’s in.

A golf club is useless in my hands. A golf club in Tiger Woods’ hands is four major golf championships. It depends on whose hands in.

A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal. A rod in Moses’ hands will part the might sea. It depends on whose hands it’s in.

A slingshot in my hands is a toy. A slingshot in the hands of David is a mighty weapon. It depends on whose hands it’s in.

Two fish and five loaves in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches. Two fish and five loaves in Jesus’ hands will feed thousands. It depends on whose hands they’re in.

Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse. Nails in Jesus Christ’s hands will produce salvation for the entire world. It depends whose hands they’re in.

As you see it depends whose hands it’s in.

So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God’s hands because it depends on whose hands they’re in.

James McClearn
Avenal State Prison

Thank you for sending your book, “Mendocino Noir”! I received the note to retrieve my book here at Soledad prison from the package room on December 14 but I was unable to actually get the book until December 28 due to being constantly locked down. Being on lockdown here is really ridiculous. Someone gets into a simple fight and the cops use it as an excuse to get “hazard pay.” They get paid more for hazard pay so they are sure to capitalize on it by making a big deal out of nothing. When we are on lockdown we are not allowed to go to yard, canteen, or receive packages. We all get escorted to get medications, when we see the doctor, and when we go eat.

Supposedly the overcrowding of California’s prisons is going to be reduced. There is no sign of any reduction of crowding here. They recently filled up the gym here with 120 more beds. We are packed in these dorms like sardines.

In your December 9, 2009 issue in an article by Mark Scaramella entitled “Gimme Shelter,” it states that “Sheriff Allman reports that on January 25, 2010, the state is scheduled to begin releasing people from state prisons to relieve overcrowding.” Also, Allman says that “133 is the number the Department of Corrections says they’ll be returning to Mendocino County.”

I would like to know where Allman gets this specific information. I’ve written to the San Quentin law office for updated reports on early release and I have not been able to receive any information on any specific time or how or who they will be releasing early. I would like to write Sheriff Allman to ask him what he knows. It seems that we are like mushrooms in here: kept in the dark and fed a bunch of shit.

If possible, please send me or publish Sheriff Allman’s address so that I can pick his brain.

One more thing, there are some really cool guys in here who would love a female penpal including myself. If there are any hill muffins or anyone else interested in a harmless penpal please write to Lance Scott G-36437 CTFS Dorm 4-4 up, P.O. Box 690, Soledad, CA 93960.

Thanks again for your wonderful book!

Lance Scott
Soledad

Ed note: Mail for Sheriff Allman can be sent to Sheriff Tom Allman, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, 501 Low Gap Road, Ukiah, CA 95482.