I have this plaque hanging on my front door. It is a scripture and reads:
"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unaware." Heb 13:2
God would put me to the test with those words when an inmate I had never met in a Florida jail decided to come to my home after his release.
The court date being postponed until January was actually a blessing in disguise. We hadn't figured out how to get Todd out of Florida in case the judge ruled in our favor, probation. In the event they did release him, I was willing to save up for a plane ticket for Todd to fly home to Long Island, but he had written that he'd rather come here to see me. A normal woman would be taken aback by such a request but I had some experience with homeless drug addicts while doing mission work with my church. Once I even rescued a man in the middle of the night from a crack house in a neighboring city. He spent a week in my home, sobering up and coming down off the drugs. When he felt ready, I put a $100 in his pocket and sent him on his way. To date, I've never heard from this man again and don't know if he made it or not. I doubt it. Drugs and alcohol are hard addictions to overcome. One can not simply turn the addiction off. It takes weeks or months of counseling and medical attention and almost always requires hospitalization. If Todd were going to come here, to my home, I'd have to make preparations.
Being Catholic, the first place I turned was to the Church. I googled catholic churches in Polk county Florida and came across St. Thomas, in Bartow. I telephoned the priest there, told him what I was up to and he'd said he'd be glad to help. He said he was a regular chaplain at the jail I was speaking of, and would look in on Todd during his next visit. I made lots of phone calls. I lined up a rehabilitation center, job interviews and I even lined up a sponsor for Todd. Someone who was in recovery himself and could help Todd in ways that were foreign to me. I penned a letter and sent it to Todd's attorney hoping the attorney would use it to sway the judge's ruling in our favor. Todd was a drug addict and an alcoholic. In order for him to ever beat those addictions, he would need long term therapy, counseling and medical care. Something that wasn't available to him while he was incarcerated. Added to that was the fact he had been a witness in the most infamous mass murder case in the history of Polk County. As a result, there was a valid contract out on his life.
I was ignorant to the correctional system though. I didn't realize that when one is placed on probation, that person cannot leave the county that issues the probation, much less the state. I did more research. I found a clause called "Interstate Compact". If approved, this clause allows probationers to transfer that probation to another state. If Todd were to remain in Florida, his life was in danger and I had to prove this to the judge. I telephoned the state attorney that represented the state in the Serrano case as well as that producer from the New York news station and asked them if they would write a letter on Todd's behalf. They agreed. I forwarded the letters along with the outline of my plan to the attorney and to Todd to have with him at the hearing.
December 31, 2006
REF:Leslie Todd Jones
DOB 03/01/63
SSI# xxx-xx-xxxx
To Whom It May Concern:
My name is xxxxx xxxxxxx and I have agreed to aid in Mr. Jones' recovery from alcohol and drug addiction. I have had a great deal of experience in these matters. I have served as a Volunteer Counselor with xxxxxxx County Youth Court Services in xxxxxxxx, xx and I have worked as a Confidential Informant with the City of xxxxxxxx xx Police Department.
I have outlined a plan of rehabilitation for Mr. Jones upon his release from Polk County Correctional Facility.
Upon his release, he will go immediately to St. Thomas Catholic Church located at 1305 Mann Street in Bartow, Fl. There he will meet with Father Mitchell. He will also find a duffel bag filled with clean clothing, toiletries, cash and a plane ticket to xxxxxxxxxx, xx. Fr. Mitchell will escort Mr. Jones to the airport in Tampa, Fl.
I will personally meet Mr. Jones flight when it arrives in xxxxxxxxxx, and then transport him to xxxxx House, a rehabilitation center located at xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The telephone number for xxxxx House is xxx-xxx-xxxx. They are well known for their efforts in drug and alcohol rehabilitation. At xxxxx House, Mr. Jones will meet with physicians and psychologists specially trained in addiction. The programs run anywhere from 12 to 24 weeks. Mr. Jones' length of stay will be determined by the doctors there.
Upon his release from xxxxx House, Mr. Jones will come to my home. I have prepared a room for him and he will be given free room and board as well as a small salary in exchange for "handyman" work. My address is xxxx xxxxxxxxx Drive, xxxxxxxxxx, xx xxxxx and my telephone number is xxx-xxx-xxxx. I might add that I will not tolerate any form of alcohol or drug use. No exceptions.
Mr. Jones will be required to attend at least one meeting a day at a 12 step program known as The Recovery Club, located at xxxx xxxxxxx Drive, xxxxxxxxxx, xx xxxxx. The telephone number for The Recovery Club is xxx-xxx-xxxx. Their meetings are held every day at 8am, 12pm, 6pm, and 8pm. Mr. Jones will be free to go to any or as many meetings he chooses, depending on his work schedule. I only require one a day. Transportation will be provided. I have also arranged for Mr. Jones to have a personal sponsor, Todd xxxxx. Like Mr. Jones, Todd xxxxx has battled a lifetime of addiction to cocaine, crystal meth and alcohol. Mr. xxxxx has been "clean" for about 10 years and attends at least two meetings a day. I have the utmost respect and admiration for him. I also have a lot of faith that he would be the right sponsor for Mr. Jones. You may contact Mr. xxxxx at xxx-xxx-xxxx and his address is 8505 xxxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxx, xxxxxxxxxx, xx, xxxxx.
As for employment, I have arranged for three interviews. One with Lt. John xxxxx with xxxxxx County Sheriff's Department. He is in charge of internal affairs with the sheriff's office but also owns a concrete company that employs about 30 men. Lt. xxxxx has had experience with addiction with own son and is willing to "do what he can" to help Mr. Jones get on his feet. You may contact Mr. xxxxx at xxx-xxx-xxxx.
The second interview will be with xxxxxxx xxxxx, owner of xxxxx Heating and Air. You may contact Mr. xxxxx at xxx-xxx-xxxx.
The third interview will be with x & x Construction. Their phone number is xxx-xxx-xxxx or xxx-xxx-xxxx. They are located here in xxxxxxxxxx at xxx xxxxxxx Industrial Road. Mr. Jones has had experience in heavy equipment and this is an earth moving service. It may be the best option for him based on his experience.
If all this fails, Mr. Jones will be transported to Labor Ready to obtain day labor work until he can find permanent employment.
I will also aid Mr. Jones into having his driver license reinstated.
Mr. Jones will also be expected to attend regular church services. I am a devout catholic and believe that you can accomplish nothing without God. Mr. Jones will be able to choose his own church as long as it is a New Testament Christian church. I require that he goes at least one time a week. Again, transportation will be provided.
As you can see, Mr. Jones is a lucky man to have found someone like me willing to help him. I don't do this for everybody but Mr. Jones has shown to me that he is ready to change and willing to tackle all that is necessary to do so. He is aware that his recovery is not a temporary step, but rather a lifetime commitment. It will have to take priority in his life, above all else, permanently.
One of the reasons I am willing to do all this is that it has come to my attention that Mr. Jones has done a great deal in aiding Floridian authorities in convicting mass murderer, Nelson Serrano. Something Mr. Jones did on his own and without coercion. That shows to me that he is worth saving. As a result of this action, his life is in danger. Coming here to xxxxxxxxxx will be the next best thing to the witness protection program.
He has done the state of Florida a tremendous favor and I feel that the State of Florida needs to return that favor.
You may contact me either at my office, xxx-xxx-xxxx or by my personal cell, xxx-xxx-xxxx.
Sincerely,
Norma DePlume
PS: If the Interstate Transport Agreement transfer is approved, Mr. Jones' new probation officer will be William xxxxxx. His office number is xxx-xxx-xxxx.
Christmas came and went that year. Todd spent the holiday alone, as usual, in his cell. He had my photo though. It was all he had. Because this story is factual I do have to admit that Todd, being your typical man much less a felon, did jokingly ask me to send him more "revealing" photos. I wrote back to him and said,"that would be like showing you your Christmas present early and then wrapping it back up and putting it under the tree". He knew what I meant and he realized that I was not "that kind of girl". He wrote back and apologized for even asking. It only gave him more respect for me. He never asked again and I never sent him any more pictures. We had been lucky to get away with it the first time, I wasn't going to risk trying it again.
I spent my Christmas with family but I too, felt alone. I was lonesome for a man I had never met. I was beginning to become more and more lonesome for Todd as the days went by. I sent Todd a Christmas card saying, "You're in my heart now, stay there". I took out a $500 loan and packed a box as I had said I would do. I filled the box with clothing, toiletries, money for a plane ticket, a prepaid cell phone and a bible. Addressed it to Farther Mitchell c/o St. Thomas Catholic Church, Bartow, Florida. I carried this box in the trunk of my car, ready to ship at a moments notice. There was nothing left for me to do but to await a court date and pray the judge would would rule in our favor.
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