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Mission Statement
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To
inform the public about the injustice of Mandatory Minimums. To give
tools that help change laws, and free those wrongfully convicted. To
help the innocent who are incarcerated gain their freedom. To give
support to anyone, at any and all times. |
Paul Will's Story E-mail
Paul
is a 29-year-old man who is in Louisiana State Prison at Angola. He was
sentenced in July 2001 to Life without Parole. Paul is currently appealing this
decision. Support in this case is essential. The Court of Appeals needs to see
that the public opinion on Mandatory Minimums is obviously a grave injustice in
this case, and many others like it.
Paul
was just 27 years old when he made one mistake - committed a crime. This was his
first offense. Paul admits to car-jacking Nicole Madere on July 25, 2000, but he
never demanded any ransom and released Nicole physically unharmed.
Paul
had promised Nicole from the beginning that he would not hurt her and he never
did physically harm her in any way. He drove her across country from New Orleans
to Philadelphia, then let her go where she felt safe.
At
the time of kidnapping, Paul was addicted to heroin and was looking for a way to
get to Philadelphia to kill himself. In the desperate mind of a jobless heroin
addict, the crime seemed to be the only solution at the time.
Praise
the Lord, Paul is fully recovered now and has found faith in God. He is not a
dangerous man, never was, and is not likely to ever commit a crime again. It was
simply a desperate attempt by someone who was very depressed. Paul is thankful
that he came through his addiction healthy and is now a positive, stable person.
He can live a happy, productive life outside of prison if given the chance.
The
conviction of Aggravated Kidnapping was very unusual considering Paul never
asked for any kind of ransom in exchange for Nicole's safe return. The jury's
decision even surprised Nicole's parents, Norm and Karen Madere. They believed
the jury would decide on the lesser charge of 2nd degree kidnapping. Another
person who was surprised by the jury's verdict was State Sen. Art Lentini. He
said the verdict was an "imaginative interpretation of the law and the
Court of Appeals and Supreme Court will eventually split hairs on this."
It
should be noted that the difference between Aggravated Kidnapping and
Second-Degree Kidnapping is the demand of some sort of ransom. Whereas
Second-Degree Kidnapping charge carries a 6-40 year sentence, aggravated
Kidnapping carries a mandatory minimum sentence of life without parole.
Even
though he sits in prison everyday with a sentenced of life without parole,
surrounded by men who have hate in their hearts, Paul is one of the most
positive people I've ever had the pleasure to meet. He continues to work on
bettering his life, even from behind bars. He has joined the prison gospel band,
has applied for Bible courses, and has committed himself to helping anyone who
might be traveling the road he once found himself on.
He
has always expressed his remorse to Nicole and her family. He understands God
spared his life that day for a reason. He intends to live the rest of his life
helping others who are addicted or depressed and looking for a way out.
Paul wishes to thank all of those people who send the letters of support. These letters mean a lot to him, but also help to show the Court of Appeals that this sentence is unjust.