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Dear Friends, Last month Fritz and I were able to have a visit for the first time in a year-and-a-half. I flew from Denver to Phoenix and stayed for a weekend and so was able to visit with him on a Saturday and Sunday. We were pleasantly surprised to have gotten a full six hours of visiting in each day! When Fritz was housed in Oregon, we were usually limited to two-hour visits to accommodate the small visiting room. You can’t imagine the excitement and relief we felt when we finally saw each other in person because, at first, it looked like the Feds were not going to let me visit. You see my trip for a short time was postponed because, in order to
harass Fritz, the prison staff had pulled my approval at the last minute.
After lots of prayer, calls to my senator and protests by Fritz, the Bureau
of Prisons (BOP) restored my visiting privileges. The final hurdle
to clear was to pass the GE Iontrack Itemiser test, which tests for 30
different substances. They put a fresh filter in a wand and pass
it over your body and drivers license. Fritz warned me that certain
things might give false positives, such as perfumes and lotions.
BOP policy is that if a visitor fails the test the first time, they must
wait 48 hours before attempting to visit again—in other words a wasted
visit from out of state. It seemed so cruel. What a helpless
feeling it was to consider that I had no control over what substances prior
customers may have had in my rental car, hotel room, or even, who handled
the bills in my purse before they became my money (the very bills I was
to use to get coins in the prison lobby to use in their vending machines!).
Fortunately, they had a restroom where I could wash my hands after handling
the money and before being tested. For more information on the Iontrack
Itemiser go here to read GE’s product information. Unfortunately,
I see more of these in our future. Thankfully, I cleared the Itemiser
test and Fritz and I went ahead with what became a great trip.
As you can see, Fritz looks great and is doing great. We lost complete track of the time and never ran out of things to talk about. They have a photographer on the weekends, so we had our picture taken. He does a lot of legal work and teaching to help other inmates. He teaches a course on the Civil War, for which the inmates get history credit, as well as math and other subjects. He extends his greetings to all of you, and thanks each one of you for your overwhelming support. He really enjoys all of the letters he gets. After the visit, I understand much better Fritz’s legal battles, but even I can’t be told everything to insure the legal process to free him goes smoothly. He is currently on his final appeal. While the specifics can’t be disclosed, your donations of love have allowed him to retain an accomplished attorney, J.M. Irigoyen of J.M. Irigoyen Law Corporation of Fresno, California. Mr. Irigoyen is helping Fritz out because of who he is. We expect terrific things to be happening this year, but we’re short $5,000 for the final installment which is due by September 7, 2005. In order to proceed with Fritz’ appeals,we urgently need help with Fritz’ legal fees. This is his last chance to overturn this incredibly unfair conviction. If he fails to make this appeal, he will spend the next 5-7 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. If you can help, please make all checks payable to: J.M. Irigoyen Law Corporation Then send them to me at the following address: Patricia Springmeier
I will keep track of funds coming in and as I forward them to Mr. Irigoyen, will keep you posted as to how much has come in and will return any checks that come in after our goal has been reached. If you’d like to write to Fritz: Fritz Springmeier 65941-065
Please continue to pray for us. Without God’s help we can do nothing. Be of good cheer. When we can say more, we will. Gratefully yours, Patty Springmeier
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