Later, the guards woke me up and told me to pack my stuff up. They were moving me into a protective custody cell due to all the publicly.
The "holding cell" as they called it, was small. There was just barely enough room for the other inmate and myself to fit. The only other things in the cell were an iron bunk bed, a stainless steel toilet with a sink attached to it, and a small metal table bolted to the wall. This was my new home. Already in the cell was a black guy in his early 20’s watching me enter the cell. I hesitated at the door not sure what to do. Was I supposed to introduce myself? It is a strange feeling to suddenly find yourself living in a close quarters with a complete stranger.
He must have sensed my unease and said, “Don’t worry. I don’t worry I’m not looking for any trouble.”
While I unpacked my few belongings and made up my bed we talked a little bit. His nickname was Little Tick-his father being Big Tick. He had been in the jail for a few weeks for killing his girlfriend. The only problem was he didn’t do it. Of course, most of the people in jail and prison will claim they are innocent of the charges against them. Most of them are in fact guilty, but Little Tick was actually telling the truth. A few months after I first walked into that cell, he was released. It turned out his girlfriend had tried to stab him while both were having a drug and alcohol induced spat. She missed and stabbed herself in a major artery in her leg and died. Little Tick had blacked out and had no memory of that night. He honestly didn’t know what had happened but he felt pretty confident that he wouldn’t have stabbed her.
I tried to say as little as possible about myself. I was still a bit shell shocked from all the madness of the day. Tick did ask what I was in jail for and as soon as I said I was from Oklahoma he said, “Oh, you’re the ones everybody is talking about.”
I was called to court a few days later for a bond hearing. Again the cameras were waiting outside of the courthouse to film me walking into court with shackles on. I was hoping I might find a glimmer of hope at the bond hearing. If it was set low enough, I would be able to get out soon. Since the crime I was charged with was only accessory to armed robbery. I thought I had a pretty good chance at being free again, but at the hearing I learned my charges had been upgraded. Now I was charged with principal to armed robbery, which is basically the same as armed robbery. As before, the prosecutor stressed how brutal the crime had been. The woman, who was a mother of five, had been shot in the neck and paralyzed from the shoulders down. Bond was set at $500,000. At that point, I knew I would not be able to get out anytime soon.
Later, at my arraignment hearing, I would plead not guilty and wait to see what would
happen.
6 comments:
Welcome Back.
Thanks for writing.
This story is captivating terrible things happened, however I do believe in forgiveness, I feel he could do more good outside of prison than in, all things happen for a reason. So does he stand a chance at being released?
FOR BEN: I just want to expressed how awful it is, that the person they actually caught *on tape* shooting the store clerk is now out free, and you are in the prison the rest of your life, just based on the testimony of the person they caught RED HANDED. Clearly, money and her family's legal connections got her a reduced sentence. It is completely a miscarriage of justice that you are in prison the rest of your life as an accomplice. I'm glad you are taking responsibility for the bad choices you made, and I'm glad to hear you've found a constructive way to make life the best you can in prison, but the discrepancy in your sentences is absolutely disgusting. Probably the most egregious example I've seen of how money and power buys freedom in this country. You deserved better.
Did Teddy actually read this blog to understand that Benjamin committed a crime of his own and this is what he is serving time for? He plead guilty to receive a life sentence in Mississippi for the death of a man he shot. Everything is sad.
If the Savage family has nething to do with it NO! I speak on behalf of my family! Who will be there at every hearing, pardon, and whatever else he tries to pull!
Anonymous (who commented in May)... Thank you for pointing that out to Teddy. Although, in Berrys' defense, maybe he hasn't reached the information that reveals his offense and sentencing. I also agree that it is truly ashamed that Sarah is infact out of prison, but Ben will serve the rest of his life behind bars. But can someone tell me where to find information on her release. I cannot find any information regarding her release. I'd like to end by sharing the facts about the woman who was robbed then shot by Sarah. As the post points out, she survived but was left paralyzed. On the ID channel, I watched a special which featured many people directly associated with this case, one of which was her husband. During his interviewed, he revealed that within 4 months after she was shot/paralyzed, she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She was unable to testify in person during the trail due to her frail state, so they conducted her testimony by video, then presented that footage in court. She passed away 2 weeks (my apologies for not remembering) either before or after the trail. Her husband also revealed that before her death, she had forgiven Sarah and Ben. He stated that she did so because she did not want to pass away while holding a grudge. His interview reduced me to tears. She clearly was a wonderful woman. I agree, this truly was a sad case. It was senseless.... There were no winners. Ben, it is not my place to judge you, but if the victim can forgive you, I hope you are/were able to forgive yourself. God bless...
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