School bus mechanic Roberto Ortiz sentenced to life without parole for first offense, a nonviolent d
Ortiz was born in Puerto Rico and barely spoke English. He spoke through an interpreter during his trial and says he was confused about many aspects of his case. “I didn’t understand”, he recalls.
Prior to his incarceration, the father of four worked as a mechanic for a school bus company.
“Before I came to prison, my only intention was to be a good citizen and have a better life progressively…All I’ve ever wanted to be, above all else, was to be a good father to my children.
According to Ortiz, undercover police taped conversions while learning of an impending drug deal involving the driver of a car he was riding in. Ortiz was never heard on the taped conversations, and he was not present when the heroin involved in the charge was initially purchased. Ortiz was in the backseat when the car was pulled over, while a woman sat in the front passenger seat. Ortiz was in possession of a gun at the time.
While searching the car, officers found two bags of heroin on the rear floorboard. Ortiz claimed that the drugs were not his and had been thrown in the backseat by the woman when police stopped the car. Officers subsequently searched Ortiz’s residence and discovered 2.5 ounces of heroin.
“It’s a very sad thing,” Ortiz said, “to be taken out of your family and be charged with such a massive charge that I got.” He says that it has been especially difficult to be separated from his three sons and one daughter, who were only two, four, six, and seven years old when he was incarcerated and “have a great need and desire to see [their father] again in the free world.”
Ortiz says he also longs to see his ailing mother, who lives in Puerto Rico and used to travel to Florida for a month every other year to visit him in prison. Ortiz has not seen her in many years and says he misses the days he spent in Puerto Rico helping with her community service work.
Ortiz told the ACLU, “The only thing I ask God for is to give me the liberty to be out of prison that I may have my mother in my arms again with what years she has left.”
He says he hopes to be released from prison so that he can spend time with his family and get back to work.
While in prison, he has taken a number of wellness courses, and works from 4:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the prison laundromat.
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 Ortiz 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 Ortiz' Legal Fund (Select Florida, Inmate ID=T31478)
Note: 100% of your donation goes directly into the inmate's prison account.