I am now at the lowest point (Prayer Requests strongly and urgently requested!)

me | 12-27-04 | Houmatt

[wizardoz]

Prayer is good, I suppose, but what you really need is a lawyer. Do you have one? And I don't mean a public defender, I mean, your own lawyer.

[Houmatt]

In a word, no. I cannot afford one at all.

[Houmatt]

ping

[The Mayor]

Buffalo Ping! Houmatt needs Prayers and advice, Lawyers anyone?

What did you get arrested for?
Misdemeanor's usaully don't mean jail time.
Who is the Judge?
Where were you arrested?
By Erie County Sheriffs, State Police, Buffalo?
When is your next court date?

[Houmatt]

I was arrested in Amherst by Amherst Police and arraigned by Judge Klein. My court date is January 26. I am trying to get ahold of the lawyer assigned to me and my case since this morning.

[johnny7]

What were you arrested for that they kept you in lock-up for 7 days? Amherst NY?

[Houmatt]

I was in lock-up for seven days because my family was trying to raise bail. They succeeded.

And, yes, Amherst NY.

[The Mayor]

Yup, Amherst labeled the safest community many years in a row.
The cops there are tough.

Massachusetts, if I go near that state the cops smell me and I end up in jail.
I was arrested 20+ years ago and still have a warrant out for my arrest.
No one knows why, no one can tell me how to get rid of it.
I even asked a judge 10 years ago about the statute of limitations, he said it doesn't apply in Mass.

I come from a family of cops, 2 cousins on Mass State police and my Grand Father was a Chief of Police in Hopkinton.

[Houmatt]

They are tough, but they seem to be at least reasonable. I was given an opportunity to post bail prior to arraignment, which was $250. I did not have it, so I was forced to wait it out and the judge hit me with $500 cash bail, $1500 bond. Again, my family got me bailed out.

You still think I could get probation? I honest to God do not want to go back to jail, believe me.

[The Mayor]

What is the charge?

The details are critical before I could answer that honestly.
But, misdemeanors usaually don't carry a jail sentence especially if this is the first time you have ever been arrested and don't have a record.

[DollyCali]

Oh my.. I am not a lawyer & have no money to help with but I do know that all the messes over the years I have found myself into have worked out despite the hopelessness that seemed there for what seemed an eternity

When I was in business and a "wheeler-dealer" of sorts & was having some BIG time problems , a good friend told me to use this formula:

what is the worse thing that could happen to you? (for you, you have shared that it is to go back to jail)

second thing to do is ask your self , can you get through it? (NOT DO YOU LIKE IT BUT CAN YOU SURVIVE?)(and I think you could)..

once you step over that threshold of knowing that even if you don't like it, YOU CAN HANDLE IT, gives you a lot of peace & I sense that is where you are right now.. deserted by wife, in a criminal mess & rather a frazzle.

I will pray for you and do hope you continue to share via this forum & perhaps via email or FReep mail with The Mayor who is close to you geographically & seems to have walked in your shoes.

God BLess you Houmatt.. you will get through this, you will and will be a better person for it.

We can handle the women thing for you when the other is finished .... *wink*

[johnny7]

Two cousins with MA State Police and they can't help?!

One thing I've learned... once your name gets in 'the system'... it never gets 'deleted'. Justice often only comes with (1.) a good lawyer and (2.) a judge with common sense.

While the first just requires money... the latter requires luck.

[The Mayor]

Amen Dolly..

#1 priority at this point is him and the current situation.
I'll leave the women thing up to you gals.. : )

Freep mail is a good thing for embarrasing or private info.

[Alter Kaker]

You still think I could get probation? I honest to God do not want to go back to jail, believe me.

It is impossible to say if you do not post the charge.

[The Mayor]

Nobody can find the original charge.
No judge, no cop, no court, no probation dept.

I have resigned myself to staying out of my home state.

[sauropod]

I pray that you can patch this up w/ your wife, but if you can't, I know that you can survive what is to come.

I have been through it and have come out stronger. You can too.

[Tijeras_Slim]

You have freepmail.

[rwfromkansas]

Prayers are up. It is hard to read your story without crying myself. I hope somebody will offer to take your case for free or something.

[rwfromkansas]

It is obvious he does not want to post the charge for embarrassment. If you are a lawyer, he may give it privately in Freepmail or something.