I Dodged Some Serious Prison Time

Almost 20 years ago I got arrested for several crimes— you know how DAs and cops like to add extra crimes to make sure that at least one thing sticks. After my initial arraignment, my case was continued for a month at my public defender’s request. During that time, I was contacted by a court officer who was working a side hustle of some sort. He said if I pleaded guilty at my next appearance and paid him a SUBSTANTIAL amount of money, he would alter the records immediately and keep my ass out of prison. I was facing several felony charges and not thinking too clearly. Desperation does that to you. I paid him the money, thinking it was just a scam. At my next appearance I did, in fact, plead guilty and received a sentence of nearly 17 years in prison. Several days later I had to report to the county jail to begin my time. I would be transported up to state prison from there. I said goodbye to everyone I knew. I closed out everything I could close out. And I reported when I was supposed to. I wasn’t too old, but 17 years seemed like the rest of my life. After a couple weeks I asked one of the officers why I hadn’t been transported to prison. He told me to shut up. So I did. And after 22 days total I was released. My conviction had been reduced to a single misdemeanor and my sentence to 30 days— 22 days after credit for ‘good behavior’. When I got out, I didn’t know what to do. I figured I would get caught again soon. The only thing I had left was money in the bank so I just split. Moved several states away. I didn’t talk to anyone I had known before. I’ve been living as quietly as possible just so no one ever has reason to look back at my case. It’s weighed on my mind like you wouldn’t believe.