Dear Slingshot,
At present I’m doing 51 years to life for 2-(10851s’) driving a vehilce without the owners consent. Under California’s new 3x strike law, any new felony (3rd felony) requires a 25 to life sentence. In my case, I had 2 joy ridings, and since they are considered felonies under California’s new 3x strike law, I was sentenced to two 25 to life terms plus a 1 year prison prior enhancement.
I already had two prior strikes dating back to 1985 and since the 3x strike law of 1994 was applied retroactively, well, my prior qualified me for the 3x strikes and your out provision.
I am not taking this laying down but rather, I’m reaching out to organizations and publisists as well as political powers to try and be heard.
F.A.C.T.S. [Families to Amend California’s Three Strikes-see address below-ed.] is trying to gain public support and rally up public awareness to the unjustifiable application of the 3x strike law. Their goal is to limit the application of the 3x strike law, so that it would only apply to serious and violent felonies.
It makes me feel good when I write to someone. By reaching out and expressing my views, concerns and beliefs, I feel that there is hope, and that someday my circumstance will change because “I didn’t take it laying down.”
p.s. 51 years to life, for a two minor wobbler offenses; has society forgotten that I’m someones’ brother, uncle, and son?
God Bless, Jesse Gomez, K-626067, Pelican Bay State Prison, B.6.224, PO Box 7000, Crescent City, CA 95531.
To contact Families to Amend California’s Three Strikes, contact PO Box 21613, San Jose, CA 95151, 408-977-2121. They are pushing legislation to amend Three Strikes.