Because a rifle was stolen from unoccupied home, Ivan Anderson charged with armed burglary? Gets lif
Anderson was convicted of armed burglary, grand theft auto, and two counts of dealing in stolen property for pawning a stolen television and power tools.
The burglary was charged as armed and the sentence was life without parole because a rifle was taken from the unoccupied home.
Anderson’s mother died when he was an infant. He was put in foster care, where he says he was abused. When he was seven, he went to live with his father and stepmother but reports he eventually was returned to the foster care system. Anderson has been diagnosed with depression and an anxiety disorder.
During sentencing, the judge stated, “Mr. Anderson, I’m very sorry. There are a lot of bad people that have done a lot worse things than you and not have had the opportunity to suffer what you’re about to.”
Anderson’s wife gave birth to a son in the months after the burglary and before his trial. At the time of Anderson’s sentencing, his daughter was two years old and his son was less than a year old. Now, his daughter, Aline, is eight and his son, Elijah, is seven.
Anderson says that because of his own experience growing up without a family, he desperately wants to parent his children, whom he describes as the light of his life. “Life without parole means forever,” he says. “It means I won’t be able to buy my daughter her graduation present, I won’t be able to pay for her college tuition. I won’t be able to watch her or my son grow up….What it means, is endless.”
Anderson has worked as an orderly in the prison chapel and in the canteen. During his free time, he enjoys reading novels, writing his own novels, teaching other prisoners about entrepreneurship, and watching world news.
If released from prison, Anderson says he would like to start a non-profit geared toward teaching the elderly how to use computers and another non-profit to help families who cannot afford to visit their relatives in prison to do so.
Read full story at ACLU Special Report. A Living Death: Life Without Parole for Nonviolent Offenses..
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As voters, citizens, taxpayers and bystanders, we as a society have inhumanely punished thousands of nonviolent people. Currently Washington DC and 30 states have compensation statutes for wrongfully convicted inmates. Congress’ recommended amount is $63,000 for each year served. On the other hand, overly sentenced victims who in many cases have suffered equally or worse typically receive $20 and a bus ticket if they are fortunate enough to ever be released.
Select the link below to donate directly to Anderson to help him with legal and other expenses. Most of these inhumanely sentenced inmates don't remember the last time they were able to buy personal items or snacks from the commissary. No donation is too small. JPAY is used for state inmates and Western Union for federal.
No Harsh Justice inmate has ever been convicted of a violent crime.
Donate to Anderson's Legal Fund (Select Florida, Inmate ID=W18617)
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