Choices and Tough Times for Richard

This is a very tough post to write. We always hoped this would never happen, but now that it has...

We think a blog should share all the things in our lives. Sometimes they are fun and positive, worthy of kudos. Others are a reality check of our struggles with the implication of requesting prayers and virtual hugs.

In mid-December right before Richard was to start finals at Utah State University he was arrested on drug charges stemming from a police investigation involving Richard and his 3 roomates. The charges involved the distribution, possession of pot. Richard was on audio tape by a police plant arranging for the sale of drugs to someone.

Generally this would be a misdemeaner, but their apartment was right across the street from a school, putting them in a "drug-free zone" and creating a felony situation.

After several months of waiting Richard finally had a court date at which he plead guilty to 2 of the 6 counts against him. Then it was another couple of months before he began his sentence of 60 days in the Cache County Jail. He went in the end of April and was released the end of June.

Now he has fines to pay. Once that is taken care of his probation will be transfered here to Sitka and he will be able to live at home.

The jail time was a pain for all of us. Sending him mail was brutal with the myriad of rules about what you could send in what with what on the card/letter etc. Getting a phone call was even worse as you have to go through a company that handles correctional places. First it wasn't activated and then we wouldn't be home. Of course we couldn't call him.

Meg visited him a couple of times when she was in Utah. She had to fill out an application and be on the list that he provided and her name had to match what he had written.... BS after BS.

We also found out through all of this that he had 2 prior arrests that were not felonies and did not require any jail time.

We sincerely hope that he as learn some things. Yes, jail was boring with bad food. Is it worth the risk of being sent to a state or federal prison? Was it worth creating a situation where he would be unable to get certain jobs because of his record? How did this affect the rest of us? Only time will tell. Richard's attitude toward us... his family... has been improving. He is trying to be more open and honest with us. We're looking forward to enjoying these changes when he gets here.

Richard, we love you and hope that you or us ever has to go through this again.