Day 66 - 8/27/21 - Fri
- mainemoviepirate
- Oct 31
- 3 min read
Journal Entry:
“Up at 6:20. Prepared my chicken for Lunch, HLR drink, meds. Got a new game plan: going to research three major possible errors in my trial and then send them to Steve. I’ll pull examples from the Law Library. If he uses one, at least I’ll feel like I accomplished something. Now I just heard the prison doesn't have gas for the landscaping trucks and equipment. W.T.F.? The Asst. Warden just told us, ‘This is the time to ask for things, because it’s the end of the financial year.’ Huh, what? So how do they have no gas? Unless, they’re trying to make a case for getting more. Need all the facts, I guess, before I can have an opinion.
It feels hot already, and I just drank some water only half an hour after my HLR drink. Damn, I forgot a major rule with my plan (note to self).
So, I’ve decided to pursue a Compassionate Release (CR) because it takes so long to go through the system. The timing could be right with both the new COVID explosion and my direct appeal. A.K. talked me into it; a lot of things he said make sense. Why not? Something else to work on.
My opinion of A.K. has changed. The fact that he personally knows Professor Lessig is important to me—if true, that is. I did verify that he lives in the same neighborhood.
LUNCH: The famous Fish Friday. I roll (literally) with it now. Took the alternative, some kind of bean something (ate very little), carrots (ate all), Orange (ate that for a change, but scored another one for reserve). They also had bread pudding but ran out after a fashion. I’ve started being last in line, on purpose. Worked out good today; I would have eaten it all.
SUPPER: Lasagna, which was pretty good. Salad, roll.
I'm pretty pumped. I’m going to file for a CR and write up a motion to vacate... Hope. That’s really all you need. Being able to work on something towards winning and getting to f*ck out of here. Even if Steve does nothing with the motion, it's something to put in my arsenal for Post-Appeal.”
Notes for Day 66 (Four Years Later)
A standard day. A few things need more information:
Everything I learned about any possible benefits of drinking the Hot Honey-Lemon-Red Pepper (HLR) concoction had two rules: you must do it every day (morning), and you cannot drink or eat anything for at least one hour after. Is this true? Does it have any actual medical benefit? I don’t really know. But I do know that since I’ve been doing it, I have fewer stomach/digestive issues. So, even now, four years later, it’s how I start my day. Every morning.
The other thing is the Compassionate Release (CR) and the motion to vacate. These were the first two motions, the first court documents I did in prison. I was definitely on track with the CR; people with far less medical issues than me, and who had committed much bigger crimes, were being let out during this time. The CR law was definitely in flux and ultimately changed for the better. You used to have to be literally dying, and even then, you probably wouldn't get out before you passed on. This was partially because of the bureaucracy of the BOP and the Court system, and partially because the crime you committed didn't really allow you the mercy of the court. In other words, those who were in charge thought you deserved to die in prison.
There is no way a first-time offender with zero criminal history, convicted of very questionable copyright infringement charges, would fall in that category. The inmate A.K. convinced me by saying things like, “Doug, someone like you with all your medical issues—that is what this CR law is for.” It made total sense at the time, and even though I knew my Judge would never release me, I had to try, and I am so glad I did. I learned so much about the legal system and human nature. Most importantly, I kept up to date with the fluctuating CR law and kept my radar up for any other inmates who deserved a shot at an early release.
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