Scott Larson Retribution
| Mr. Robert Presley,
My Husband and I drove for 5 1/2 hours each way, to visit my son, Scott Larson, at High Desert State Prison over the week end. We had a wonderful visit, and tried to lift up his spirit, because of the retaliation to him by the guards. We thought we were successful at this. I just wrote to you concerning my son, and the constant psychological intimidation that the guards are doing to him. He filed a lawsuit against the guards, because he was in fear for his life for standing up for his rights. I just received a phone call a few minutes ago from my son. After my husband and I left him yesterday, around 8:00 p.m. last night, 2 officers ransacked his cell in retaliation. My son asked why this was done. The officers said that it was confidential. (Either a Sgt. of Lt.. ordered it. My son forgot which it was.) , This also happened to Gary Foreshee, a friend of my sons. The only reason they can think that this happened to Gary also, is because my husband and I went over and shook Gary's hand. (I gave him a hug) I've been in contact with Gary and his parents, and was so happy to finally meet him. I sent him a bible in prison. Would you please tell me why this was a reason for such retaliation? What is going on? What are you trying to do to the families? Why should my son be punished because I hugged his friend? Why should his friend be punished? My family and I try to help people, love them, and care for them, this is how we raised our son. What kind of a message are you, and the guards trying to send? Enough is enough!!!!! Don't be surprised when you see myself , my friends and other members of the UNION picketing outside of your office, to let the media know what is happening. Thank you for your time
December 3, 2002 D.L. Runnels, Warden
Re: Scott Larson, T56086 Dear Mr. Runnels: Thank you for your letter of November 13, 2002, concerning Scott Larson and the letters I wrote on his behalf. What I stated in my letters were quoted from a letter Scott sent, and what he wrote in the Complaint filed and accepted by the Federal Court Eastern District. I wrote the letter as I didn't think the Judges would understand the threat and that it should be taken seriously. I am told that the letter helped in setting forth the issues, and knowing Judges a little—who knows what they will pick up on when they finally write an opinion. I am happy to know that Scott is doing better, and has a prison friend who will make the experience at High Desert bearable. I have found that ones like Scott and Jerry Wayne Morgan, who received a very severe sentence for minor offenses, have the hardest time enduring prison, and they also seem to be the ones that the guards pick on. Guards have constantly tried to get Jerry to retaliate so they could charge him with something to justify why he is in prison. He is still sitting in the Shasta County Jail, where he was severely beaten by guards, which they put him in medical for a month so no one would be able to document his injuries. Of course no real investigation done, and the guards are still at it in beating Darrel Dietle (pictures on my and U.N.I.O.N. Websites), and I still don't know about what really happened in this case. Then the so-called suicide of one of the Williams brothers, who was a problem and probably guilty as hell, but he still deserved his day in court. I am quite suspect that this was not a suicide, but there may be no way to prove it unless the State or Federal do a real investigation and not another cover-up. This is what I wrote about High Desert, and this was told to me by Jerry Wayne Morgan when he arrived from Calipatria on one of the visits I made, as he was a total stranger and I had never met him before. He showed me the scar and said that the guards set these up, and they actually hand out the handmade instruments to the "lifers" who do the dirty deed. So from this I knew that Scott could be in real danger, and if something wasn't done to rein in the guards, he could come to a bad end. Retribution is a very serious problem for prisoners, I know from experience in writing a Supplemental Brief with the permission of the California Third Appellate District. I wrote the Brief and had nothing but trouble getting the documents into High Desert for Jerry Wayne Morgan's signature, the original copies never were returned, but a copy with Jerry's signature was returned and I was able to do the proof of service and get it filed on time, but received nothing but Obstruction of Justice by the High Desert staff. You can see this story on my Website below, or plug his name into Google search, and my Rotunda and another Website will pop up with the story. This case did win, but you would never know that Morgan won, and at High Desert they tried to have Morgan killed out on the Yard, and he showed me a scar on his left jaw where they missed by an inch in killing him. This was a set up, and I've been told that the knives are handed out to the "lifers" just for this purpose. But a real investigation has never been done, to get to truth of this matter. Now Morgan is back in Shasta County, where the guards beat him up real bad, and again nothing has been done or a real investigation, only a cover up by the guards and the Code of Silence is still intact. Now during the time period above you were not the Warden, and I'm not sure if you were at High Desert when Morgan was stabbed as I do not have the date of that event. I have been working with U.N.I.O.N. (United for No Injustice, Oppression or Neglect), on several prisons issues. One of the main ones I have been writing about is the issue of constant Lockdowns. I think Jerry spent 80% or more of his time in State Prison on Lockdown, and it has greatly damaged him psychologically, and he may be suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome, which is not over for him as Shasta County Jail is no better in this regard. You will find information on the U.N.I.O.N. Website on this issue: http://www.oocities.org/capitolhill/parliament/2398/lockdown_index.htm The letter I and many others wrote on this issue is posted there in Letters to Agency Secretary Robert Presley. I consider this an evil practice, and should seldom be used except for those guilty of something and are bad actors, then only after hearing and having been found guilty of some action. Right now the innocent are locked down and never know the reason for months on end. I consider this to be psychological torture, and the cause of much of the anger and riots at the prisons. I know that things will get worse for the prisons if something is not done about this, as the war between guards and prisoners could get violent and many on both sides could be hurt or killed. Some of these lifers have nothing too loose and their rage is great, who knows what could set it off. So you need to find a way to ease this situation, so that this does not happen at High Desert. I appreciate your writing and opening the door for communication. I am not family of anyone in prison, and just got into this by helping out a stranger. I would like to see some real changes made, to ease the situation for both staff and prisoners. Respect is what is needed, not hate. As I see hate coming from both guards and prisoners, and this is a very dangerous situation. How to stop this, is to do real investigations and the guards should be disciplined or charged as needed, this would put a stop to much of the abuse coming from that source. Thanks you for your attention to the issues raised. Happy Holidays! JDC
December 19, 2002 Cayenne, I just received notice that Scott was just beat up by 4 people in the gym. I need help in finding out who did this, and how Scott is Thanks
Standby for a telephone bombardment. The unspeakable has happened. Even after his mother, who has a ministry in San Ramon, CA made repeated appeals for Scott Larsen's safety, he has been attacked and badly beaten. Mardele called and wrote Robert Presley personally about this situation and copied journalists Jenifer Warren, Richard Fausset, Steve Huddle and Alan Bock on that communication. It is well documented that her appeals went to Ken Hurdle, the ombudsman, and we printed these cries for help in the daily newsletter on numerous occasions. When there is this much notification and the appeals are callously ignored, then something terrible happens, this is grounds for yet another huge lawsuit. The evidence is certainly documented that CDC has failed to protect Scott Larsen in this situation. Nothing was done and now the inmates have notified Mardele through their parents that he was badly beaten at High Desert State Prison. We cannot get details of his condition, but we will continue to inquire. This may require one of our telephone bombardments to get the attention of our vacationing officials during the worst time of the year - the blue Christmas season. There is absolutely no excuse for this beating ever to have happened. Standby for updates as Scott, who is in prison for a minor crime - not the worst of the worst as High Desert always claims is housed at their facility, suffers in that hellhole. We know and we care. All for one, one for all. If I can't get the info, we will show our numbers in a telephone bombardment since this is the only language bureaucrats seem to understand. Who will carry a picket sign on January 23 to protest the callousness of legislators and administrators when they are advised that inmates are in danger? Who will carry a picket sign on January 23 for the unnecessary beating of Scott Larsen and thousands of inmates who are under the radar of a banned press? We must put an end to these outrageous conditions in a BIG way. Who
will be next? All for one and one for all, we will not take this
abuse casually. What happens to one of us could happen to any of
us. We must stand up for one another's loved ones in true UNION spirit.
For each and every case, it is the same people at the top who must be held
responsible for their inactions as well
B. Cayenne Bird
December 20, 2002 Hello Mrs. Bird, my name is Domingo Uribe, Ombudsman SVSP and was by
Ken
I've contacted the institution and was informed of the following information. He was the victim of a battery by three inmates on 12-19-02. There were no weapons involved in this battery. He did suffer minor head injuries and as a precaution was transported to Northern Nevada Medical Center for further evaluation and has since been returned to HDSP. The inmates who battered Mr. Larson have been identified and are currently in Administrive Segregation. The incident is currently being investigated by the institutions investigative unit. I've attempted to contact Mrs. Duarte however there was no answer so I left a message on her recorder. Thank You
January 6, 2003 D.L. Runnels, Warden
Re: Scott Larson, T56086 CONSTRUCTIVE
JUDICIAL NOTICE
On December 3, 2002, I wrote you a letter in response to the letter I received from you. How things have changed, and all the things we tried to stop are happening to Scott Larson. The guards set themselves up as the Investigators, Judges, Jury and Executioners, against any prisoner that just might seek his Constitutional Rights. The harassment, retaliation, intimidation have been non-stop. Scott has been beaten, put in segregation, where he is in more danger from the guards who continue their non-stop harassment. What is wrong with you and your people? Why don't you follow the laws of the land, and the Oath you took to support the United States and California Constitutions? Several times after visits from his parents, his cell has been ransacked by guards in retaliation. Then in December we learned that Scott had been beat up in the gym, obviously this was another one of those set-ups by the guards, as they get lifers to do their dirty work for rewards and perks. I understand that Scott won the honor to be the MAC rep, and this beating was probably in retaliation for this. When Scott's sister visited she asked some people why they didn't contact the family when Scott was beaten. "They said they do, the warden knew all about this incident." If you knew all about it, then why is Scott being punished and his life put in danger by being placed in Administrative Segregation or what we call Lockdown, and prisoners say being "in the hole." The staff misconduct is an Obstruction of Justice, in preventing Scott from preparing his lawsuit. They have gone through his legal papers several times, read everything, and this is not their business, it is between Scott, the Court or his Attorney. The guards who have participated in this action should be punished under Penal Code §147. "Every officer who is guilty of willful inhumanity or oppression toward any prisoner under his care or in his custody, is punishable by fine not exceeding four thousand dollars ($4,000), and by removal from office." Right now Scott is being punished by the guards, in being locked up and is being harassed severely. He is in great danger from the guards, and officers, and needs to be moved to another prison closer to his parents. He was threatened by a Captain that if his mother didn't stop helping him, and didn't give up on the lawsuit, he would bring "heat" on himself. I would consider this a death threat, as this is what happened to Jerry Wayne Morgan after he won his Third Appellate appeal, as Jerry showed me the knife wound that missed killing him by an inch, and this was a set up by the guards. In this letter I am giving you personal Constructive Judicial Notice that you are personally responsible for the safety of Scott Larson, T56086. And since you can't even trust a Captain for the truth, that you take personal responsibility to ensure that Scott is taken out of the HOLE, and placed in better conditions. Scott was happy on Yard B until the guards started harassing him. Right now you are in violation of both the United States and California Constitutions, ARTICLE 1 §17. "Cruel or unusual punishment may not be inflicted or excessive fines imposed." As Scott is receiving cruel and unusual punishment by being placed on constant Lockdown. It is bad enough to be sent to prison, but to be punished by the guards is uncalled for and it is not their duty to beat, harass, intimidate or use psychological torture methods on prisoners. I request that you take immediate action against the guards, and immediate action to have Scott Larson moved to a better prison, and not be punished again by being sent to Lancaster or Calipatria. Remember that the Great Judge of the Universe does know the truth of what is going on behind the scenes, and ultimately all will stand before His Court on the Great Judgment Day. Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter. Sincerely yours, JDC cc: Robert Presley, Agency Secretary
Various interested parties |