Robert Mathis, seriously mentally ill Vietnam veteran gets life for $20 drug transaction
Mathis served in the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged. He suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of his combat service and later was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
Mathis was arrested for selling 8.2 grams of crack cocaine valued at $20 near a school zone, but was found incompetent to stand trial and was involuntarily committed to the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services in Tallahassee.
Mathis believes he was framed for this crime by the sheriff, whom he says has had his eye on him ever since the two were involved in a car accident years before.
Mathis later went to trial, during which his mental illness and competence to stand trial were central issues. His court-appointed lawyer told the court he believed Mathis was not competent to proceed. However, Mathis would not allow his lawyer to raise his mental illness at trial and he continually sought permission to represent himself.
His petition for rehearing, which he filed and prepared himself later without the assistance of an attorney, was denied as incoherent.
Mathis has been incarcerated for 26 years, during which he says he has received only one visitor. He suffers from glaucoma, headaches, and extremely high blood pressure, and requires regular dialysis.He describes the feeling of being separated from his family and friends as “going off to war!”
Mathis reports he was held in solitary confinement for one year after he was charged with attempted assault of a prison guard. According to Mathis, inmate witnesses to the incident observed the guard assaulting him over an apple that pre-dialysis inmates such as himself were allowed to take into their dorms for a snack.
In a separate incident, Mathis was assaulted by another prisoner, who caused injuries requiring emergency eye surgery.
Mathis describes his incarceration as “hell.” Despite this, he says he has tried to better himself in prison and has taken educational courses, including GED classes and vocational training in masonry.
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 Mathis 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 Mathis' Legal Fund (Select Florida, Inmate ID=357040)
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