WITNESSES THREATENED
"Justice without compassion becomes tyranny." ~Rev: Ron Schulte, Inmate Watch USA
Only one of us has been arrested - the other is in deep hiding. The one in hiding is the one who receives the worst of the constant death threats from Bob Hill. Michelle Ursino is the one in jail on conspiracy charges of what her husband is being charged for. It's all a load of crap but she was the one who was always in their faces for everything. I am the one quietly listening and quietly asking questions I am less of an in-their-face threat but I am still getting the same threats. Finally, always being a good girl is paying off as there is nothing they can just arrest me for. So far. lol .
I am now getting people who once spent time in this nightmare place to step forward. I don't know if you realize this but this is a miracle. Before we were on the local news this would never and I mean never would have happened!!!!!!!!!!!
When this is over I want the old section of the Jail closed down as it was condemned in the 80's it should not be to hard. I hope and I want the Sheriff and Undersheriff Bob Hill to leave their jobs. Time behind their own bars would be nice but what I literally want is for them never to be able to do this to anyone ever again!
I also want to thank you for helping and for giving courage to fight one more day. When I speak with you it gives me the push I need not to run. Every time I tell someone this story is sounds so unreal. I understand how outsiders can be unbelieving and yet you listen. God has a special place for you.
Hope the storm isn't pounding you too hard.
Twilla Knight
Witness in Duncan City
Monday, September 06, 2004 12:07 PMI told you I would tell you about my stay at the Stephens County jail in a little more detail.
On March *** 2004 I was taken to the Stephens County Sheriff's office, I was told for questioning. Before I agreed to go with Deputy Alexander I told them I would not talk without a lawyer. I sat in a room for about 30 minutes then Deputy Alexander came in and started asking me Questions like my name, Social Security number ect..
He left again and approximately 30 more minutes went by. Sharon Sealy came to the room and told me I had to go with her. I followed her to the Jail, She left me at the booking area where Kenneth began booking me into jail. I answered all his questions including what medications I was taking.
I asked numerous times if I was under arrest with no response. I then told them that if I was under arrest I wanted my right read to me. Still no answer. I was then given the phone to make a call. I was then put out on a wooden bench to sit there for a few hours. They never finger printed me or spoke to me. I had to ask 8 times over two hours to use the bathroom before anyone took me to a cell to go pee.
I was eventually taken upstairs to a judge. On the way upstairs I told Deputy Alexander that I wanted my rights read to me. He told me that I was in Stephens County and I therefore had no rights.
The woman who went upstairs with me was in jail for the exact same crime I was there for. She had a criminal record. She was given $1000.00 bond. I went in front of the Same Judge right after her. I have no criminal record I was given $10,000.00 bond.
I was taken back down stairs to sit on the bench again for about another two hours. Linda finally had me change into jail clothes that were too small. She gave me a toothbrush and Styrofoam cup. She then walked me back to a six man cell that already had sixteen women in it. The toilet was broken and running on the floor. The women told me that is were I had to sleep...On the wet concrete floor with no blanket or mat. They did give me a roll of toilet paper to use for a pillow, and one girl had a small hand towel she let me use as sort of a blanket. I didn't get a mat or blanket for three days.
I filled a med slip out that first night for contact solution, a case to take my contacts out with, and my medications. It took five days for me to get the solution and case - the whole time I was begging because my eyes were getting infected. I finally got them out.
A few days later I put in my application for a court appointed attorney (it took them that long to give me the paperwork.) I also put in another med slip for my medication. During the first week I was interrogated three different times. Every time I asked where my attorney was I was told to just answer the questions and not worry about my lawyer.
I put in three med slips a week for my medications. I was never even given a Tylenol. I requested every day to see my lawyer . I never spoke to him. This went on for three weeks.
I'll write this down with a little more detail. I just can't go home tonight because I got a death threat.
Thanks for all your help. We are working on the scanner to send my letters too.
Sincerely,
Name withheld for protection
Monday, September 06, 2004
Another witnessOn Tuesday, August ***, 2004 ******** somehow was injured in jail. He told the jailers he needed medical attention, and was told the following morning that they would make an appointment at the Doctors for him.
By Thursday, August ***, 2004 he still didn't see a Doctor. He was experiencing numbness in his right arm and pain, along with pain in his neck and upper back across his shoulders. He called me approximately 4:40 p.m. asking me to please call an ambulance or the judges to get him medical attention because he was in severe pain. I could hear it in his voice.
I told him that I could not do that and I pleaded with him not to ask them again because they would retaliate. I don't know what happened and still don't know. But received a call from an inmate that he was on suicide watch and was on the "Rock", a horrible inhumane place in the jail.
The next morning I went to the Sheriff's office and tried speaking to the Undersheriff and he told me "that he was not talking to me" and slammed the door in my face. After leaving and returning to my home/office I had a call from a friend who said that she received a call from her connection inside the jail, and ****** had lost it and was banging his head ************************* [this deleted to protect prisoner]
I called the FBI and reported that this 'detainee' was being denied medical and mental health treatment. I also called the Attorney General's Office, the City Commissioners, Board of Health who oversees the jails as far as health and safety concerns, I called our Pastor and they denied him visitation, and told him to come back Monday.
I had called the District Judge over the County Courthouse and spoke with him. He told me that he was very concerned also for his welfare. I told him that the day before I was approached by an Inmate/Trustee and he told me "that some of the prisoners do not like him because he is a bounty hunter and people like the jailers, Sheriff's Department and people in the courthouse".
He told me that his life is in danger and that they will kill him. I also told him before he dismissed that statement as jail house talk and I should not believe a prisoner. I told him that what makes it different then when He as the Judge or the District Attorney uses the same prisoners as witnesses against other inmates in a court of law and YOU believe them, so why shouldn't I. He told me that he called [delete name *****] attorney of record. Which is the one, who is being dismissed.
I called the attorney and asked to make a motion for *********** to be seen by a Mental Health Doctor. He told me that he did receive a call from the Judge but was only told to call the Undersheriff. I told him the situation, and he said he would file a motion to have him looked at. I never heard back, I called and he was gone for the weekend. My new attorney will not get involved until he has the rest of the money. And as of this date I am still in need of $4,500.
About 3:30 p.m Friday, I had a visit from a person who does Jail Ministry and he said he visited with *******. He said he is concerned about me and loved me very much. He also told me he is very stressed and distraught. I asked him if he was cut or bleeding he told me he had some scratches but not wounds. He went back over to visit with ****** after speaking with me and gave ****** a message for me. I don't know if I can believe this man as he got to see him after they denied visitation from his own Pastor.
Today is visiting day and I will not be able to see him at all. I myself am very distraught and upset. I feel sometimes no one hears.
[area deleted for protection] but please if anyone can help us out and help me get ******** out of there...every little bit helps, even your posts of love and support.
Keep us in your prayers,
Love to all, be well and safe
Name withheld for protection
This witness now has been arrested. We are not sure as to the charges or the validity of the charges. However given the track record of the people running this prison, law enforcement office validity does seem to be an issue they concern themselves with.
Rev. R Schulte - staff
Inmate Watch USAMrs. Kristie Warren's statement was written at the end of August 2004.
LT GOVERNOR STATE OF OKLAHOMA
carolyn.pickthorn@ltgov.state.ok.us
