Mike Petty N Doing Fine

On February 15, 2007 I was dropped off at my parents house at around 7am after staying with a good friend overnight. I went straight to my bedroom and fell asleep. Around 10am I woke up to pounding on the front door. I figured it was my little brother locked out of the house or something so I got up and went to the front door. I looked out the window and there were cops everywhere on the walls, in the driveway, cars in the street. They all had their guns drawn and were getting ready to knock the door down so I opened the door. They came in and put me to the ground and handcuffed me then sat me down on the porch outside. They started to search the house and the media showed up so they took me back inside the house and sat me down. After awhile when they realised there was nothing in the house for them they took me outside to put me in the cop car. The media was taking pictures and video taping. Little did I know that would be the last time I would see my home or be around for my family and my friends. While sitting in the police station there where people I knew in all the cells along with guy's I knew but didn't know. After awhile i was brought into an interrogation room where two detectives that I knew from a previous interview I had with them and my attorney. They asked questions for over an hour in which I cooperated completely. Once I was transferred to the county jail where I was booked and charged for many crimes allot that I didn't commit too. Armed robbery and Gang enhancements. I was put into a cell in general population. I was completely shocked by everything that was happening not to mention very very scared. I was being held on a NO Bail hold because of all the charges they racked up to make me look really bad. The next morning when we where let out of our cells for an hour it seemed like everyone knew me and started calling me Fight Club I didn't know what was going on until they showed me the paper with my picture on the front page along with some of the other co-defendants. It went on to explain what we were arrested for and that we were all apart of a criminal street gang which is completely false. Not only am I NOT A GANG MEMBER or never have been a gang member. I didn't even know some of the guy's I was accused of being in a gang with. A couple of day's later at my first court date I was brought into the courtroom and it was packed with cameras and the media that was ridicules, we were arraigned on all of our charges and given bail amounts and set to come back in a week. In between that time I was still in general population unfortunately Travis was with me which was completely stupid. The guard came and told me to roll up my stuff. I was told one of the other defendants was jumped pretty badly and that because we where in the newspaper and on the news that I was going to need to be put into protective custody. I was later transferred to another jail about an hour away and I was put into an open day room with 15 others. On the morning of my next court date I was woken at 4am and put into line to be shackled and transferred to court. While I was waiting to be shackled one of the deputies had recognized me and was talking about how rich me and all my co-defendants were and that we were all pieces of crap and that we started this gang to beat people up and that we thought we were so tough. I just kept my mouth shut and the guy got all mad and slammed me up against the wall and put his knee into my back. I still kept quite so he put the chains on my waist so tight that I was gasping for air and he started to laugh. When I was brought to court I was afraid to say anything cause I had just seen another one of my buddies ruffed up by another guard. When i went back that night I had bruising so bad I had to go to the nurse. I learned then that I was on my own. Going to court the next time was even worse they made me out to be the worst of the worst and said I was looking at 60yrs if convicted on all the charges they had put on me. I couldn't understand what was going on and I had already been having problems with anxiety and depression before I came to jail and this made it even worse I started taking more medications which made me blow up. Over the next 14months I was constantly going to and from court hearings ,my parents wanted to help me so much they even hired what was supposed to be this great attorney. I was just wishing everything would just stop and I would wake up out of a dream and it would all be OK. But I kept showing up in the papers and to court and they wanted to give me a deal of 19yrs my attorney at the time said there would be no way in hell we would except this plea for this long and be called a gang member. Later he told me that we were going to take the deal because it wasn't going to get any better and that if we fought it I would get 60yrs. Signing that paper and hearing the judge tell me I was being convicted of armed robbery, burglary, and a gang enhancement and I would serve 19yr 4months was hard but what what was even harder was seeing my family sitting there crying and realizing I might not ever get out to be with them again because I got caught up around the wrong people and the DA turned me into a gang member that didn't exist and the media made me out to be some story of the year when there are people getting killed or raped and molested everyday and getting less time than me. Don't get me wrong I deserve to be here I just don't believe I deserve 19 yrs taken away from my life. I was transferred to Delano State Prison where I was put into a cell for 24hrs a day. There are no phones and you don't get out of your cell I was there for 8 1/2 months and this took allot out of me and drained me to the bones. I was told I was being transferred to a maximum security prison yard and that I would not be getting out until 2023. I was totally blessed one early morning at 2am when I was told to roll up my belongings and that I was leaving they took us to San Diego Donovan State Prison. I have always dreamed that I would live in San Diego and go to SDSU and play ball someday well all that dream has gone away but I have found myself here in San Diego. I live in a level 4 yard mostly all the inmates in this yard are their for life sentences I am in the Special Needs yard for my protection. My celly whom I have become pretty close to is serving a life sentence for getting into a fight outside a bar making a mistake and killing the guy he is 23yrs old. I am pretty much still locked down all the time because I am close a which means I need to be watched for my own protection for 2yrs. So I have allot of restrictions I am locked 23hrs a day every other day we get yard for a couple hours I play handball and work out allot. I stay to my self cause I want to survive although I have friends it's nothing like home that's for sure. You are constantly watching your back. My family has been my rock. Mom used to tell me Michael when you get into trouble your friends will not be there for you it will only be your family. I really wish i had listened to them and there advise. Getting into taking pills was the worst thing I ever did to my life and future I will never take a pill again in my lifetime and I am totally much better without them. I have vowed not to get into any trouble while I'm here, and wow how easily it is to get into trouble. I stay to myself and pray that one day I will be able to join my family and have a life again. I would also like to say hey to my Bro whom I still have not been able to visit with and am looking forward to that day when we can embrace again. I am also very sad to hear about my friend Alex Venegas I keep him and his parents in my prayers daily. Mom and Dad I love you more than you know I am just so thankful to have you in my life you mean the world to me. O'ya I'm an uncle it's kinda weird but she is beautiful and am grateful my sister has let her get to know me, O'ya Amanda please come see me more i miss you. God Bless and please be safe Mike

Yes this is Tyson Michael's baby. Well he's not so much a baby any more. Now that it has been warmer he has been up to his working out in the pool doing the many laps a day he does. We have to tell him to get out just like a kid.

Easter Sunday with Michael was great it was a very nice day and not allot of visitors. For lunch he was able to enjoy a New York Steak and fries, dryers chocolate ice cream and some sunflower seeds. He has been able to have steak twice now in the last 2 1/2 yrs. Then he said he went back and they had hamburgers for Easter dinner.

Saturday Michael and I had a visit by ourselves it was very nice even know it took me 3 1/2hrs to just get in. I was lucky enough that one of the Co's likes me and so he called him out and had him waiting for me until I came in otherwise I would have had to wait longer for them to do count because of his custody status. I was very thankful CO Hamilton was in a good mood with how busy it was. Michael and I can get allot of talking done when it is just the two of us. I learn more about what goes on where he lives and what his life truly is like. My son has come a long way since 2/15/07, and I am truly proud of him and love him to death.