Man Is Serving A Life Sentence In Jail For Stealing $9
Reporter and producer for WBRC, Beth Shelburne, is bringing consideration to Willie Simmons, a person who has spent the final 38 years in jail for stealing $9. He was convicted of 1st-degree theft and sentenced to life with out parole in Alabama.
See her tweet beneath:
THREAD: In the present day I talked to Willie Simmons, who has spent the final 38 years in jail for stealing $9. He was convicted of 1st diploma theft & sentenced to life with out parole in 1982, prosecuted beneath Alabama’s recurring offender legislation as a result of he had three prior convictions. 1/12 pic.twitter.com/s5BNK2Ejyd
— Beth Shelburne (@bshelburne) December 22, 2019
In line with the Alabama reporter, in 1982, Simmons, an Military veteran who grew to become hooked on medicine whereas stationed abroad, was prosecuted beneath Alabama’s recurring offender legislation as a result of he had three prior convictions.
Mr. Simmons was instructed when he was 25 that he would die in jail. He’s now 62 and the final time he had a customer was 2005, proper after his sister died.
Mr. Simmons was 25 when the state stated he ought to die in jail. In the present day he is 62. Once I requested his age he paused & laughed. “Been so lengthy since any person requested me that,” he stated. He hasn’t had a customer since 2005 after his sister died. “Have not heard from no person since then.” three/12
— Beth Shelburne (@bshelburne) December 22, 2019
Presently, Mr. Simmons is incarcerated at Holman, some of the violent prisons within the nation. He’s learning for his GED and “tries to avoid the wild bunch.”
Mr. Simmons is incarcerated at Holman, some of the violent prisons within the nation. He’s learning for his GED and “tries to avoid the wild bunch.” He received sober in jail 18 years in the past, regardless of being surrounded by medicine. “I simply talked to God about it,” he stated. four/12
— Beth Shelburne (@bshelburne) December 22, 2019
Mr. Simmons admitted to being excessive on medicine when he dedicated the crime that landed him in jail for all times. “I used to be simply making an attempt to get me a fast repair,” he defined.
Mr. Simmons instructed me he was excessive on medicine when he dedicated the crime that landed him in jail for all times. He wrestled a person to the bottom and stole his pockets which contained $9. “I used to be simply making an attempt to get me a fast repair,” he stated. Police arrested him just a few blocks away. 5/12
— Beth Shelburne (@bshelburne) December 22, 2019
Simmons recalled to Shelburne that his trial lasted 25 minutes and his appointed lawyer referred to as no witnesses. Prosecutors didn’t supply him a plea deal, regardless that all of his prior offenses have been nonviolent.
He remembers his trial lasting 25 minutes and his appointed lawyer calling no witnesses. Prosecutors didn’t supply him a plea deal, regardless that all of his prior offenses have been nonviolent. “They stored saying we’ll do our greatest to maintain you off the streets for good,” he stated. 6/12
— Beth Shelburne (@bshelburne) December 22, 2019
Over time, he is filed enchantment after enchantment, with no lawyer. All have been denied.
Over time, he is filed enchantment after enchantment, with no lawyer. All have been denied. “In a spot like this, it could possibly really feel such as you’re standing on their lonesome,” he instructed me. “I ain’t received no person on the skin to name and speak to. Typically I really feel like I am misplaced in outer area.” eight/12
— Beth Shelburne (@bshelburne) December 22, 2019
In 2014, lawmakers eliminated the final avenue of enchantment for individuals like Mr. Simmons serving life with out parole beneath the recurring offender legislation. The Recurring Offender Legislation can set off a life jail sentence – typically even life with out the potential of parole – relying on a defendant’s felony file, In line with AL.com
Simmons hopes the powers that be in Alabama will rethink his merciless sentence, “Sure, I have been hoping and praying on it,” he stated. “I ain’t giving up.”
Beth Shelburne isn’t arguing for his innocence, however feels he has paid for his crime. “It sickens me to consider what number of different persons are warehoused in jail, forgotten,” she tweeted. “When powerful on crime individuals say everybody in jail deserves to be there, consider Mr. Simmons. We must be ashamed of legal guidelines that categorically throw individuals away within the title of security. We must always query anybody who helps Alabama’s recurring offender legislation. It must go.”
Mr. Simmons didn’t deny his crimes & I’m not penning this to argue that he is harmless. He has paid for his crimes together with his complete grownup life, solid away like he wasn’t price redemption. It sickens me to consider what number of different persons are warehoused in jail, forgotten. 11/12
— Beth Shelburne (@bshelburne) December 22, 2019
Let’s hope that this story will get the traction it wants to attract consideration to this case.
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