One Womans Testimonial
Hello. My name is Amy.
I live in Arkansas. I am 28 years old. The mother of two boys. Ages 9 1/2, and 3 1/2. My husband is 30 years old. This is a second marriage for the both of us.
If you have the time, you may enjoy and even gain a little inspiration by what I have to say. This is strictly a testimonial and auto-biography of my life, and what the Lord my God has done for me and my family. I pray that this will help to build your faith and calm your spirit.
I was into drugs for approximatly 13 years. I started out with cigarettes. Then I went to alcohol. Preferrably vodka straight, this was at the age of 13. Within the next year, I moved on to other things like marijiuana. This was as far as I was willing to go for about two more years. At the age of 16 however, I started experimenting with other more illicit, more powerful drugs. I began "dropping acid", (slang term used to express oraly ingesting the drug) as well as snorting cocaine, and eating "magic-mushrooms", and snorting methamphetamine (Crank,Crystal), and as if that weren't enough, I began taking prescription pills such as percadan and thorazine anything I could get my hands on.
Then at the age of 17, I got married for the first time to my highschool sweetheart, whom I had been steadily dating for four years. Within the first year of our marriage, I became pregnant. I slowed down on the drug use to some extent at this point. I still smoked cigarettes, pot, and even drank on occassion. Then, after the birth of our bouncing baby boy Glory be to God for his good health. My now ex-husband and myself resumed our drinking , smoking pot, and usage of crank and crystal. (ON A VERY FREQUENT BASIS). This in turn helped to quicken the dissolvement of our relationship. The usage of drugs by anyone on a frequent basis, WILL result in personality alterations. We became distant and violent with each other.
After a five-and- a-half year marriage. I filled for divorce. As if my life hadn't already been bad enough, having been in an emotionally and mentaly abusive marriage. Once I moved out things went downhill EVEN FASTER.
So once I moved out, and got a place of my own. I started PARTYING. 24 / 7. I started "slamming meth" (slang term for intraveneus usage of drugs), In January of 1996. This was and is the WORST thing ANYONE can ever begin to do.
I was very quickly addicted, yet in complete denial of my addiction for three years. During this time, you can imagine the people I came into contact with. This enabled me to obtain larger and larger quantities of whatever drug I needed or wanted. In order to pay for my own usage of the pot and meth, I began dealing these drugs to others. I made good money at this as well as being able to supply my own ever increasing habit.
However, on June 18th 1999. ALL THAT CHANGED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE ARREST
I was arrested for the following charges:
Possession wih intent to deliver marijuana (in excess of 101 LBS).
Near certain facilities.
( i.e. a church,sentence enhancement)
Delivery of methamphetamines.
Possesion of drug paraphernalia.
(Pot pipes, rolling papers etc. )
Continuing a criminal enterprise.
(The Ricco Statute, having a buisiness making money from drugs.)
Simultaneous possesion of drugs and firearms.
(Sentence enhancement for possesion of both at the same time.)
Use of a communications faclity the mail as an accomplice,
(Shipping drugs through the mail.)
Endangering the wellfare of a minor
(My two-and a-half year old son and my niece were in the home.)
These were my official arrest warrant charges. I was actually in possession of half-a-pound of marijuana, and pot, and meth paraphernalia. This paraphernalia contained meth "residue". (Trace amounts were detected by the lab)
I decided that I would start reading the bible and praying three weeks before this arrest took place. Since I was praying for a way out, I believe that the Lord choose this arrest and incarceration as my wake-up call. (Not neccessarily the one I would have chosen, but it worked-out quite well just the same).
I spent 15 days in jail, then was arraigned and my bond reduced from $30,000 dollars to $10,000 dollars, at which time my parents actually bailed me out. Then five days later, I volentarily entered a drug re-habilitation center. While in the re-habilitation center, I came into contact with Christian counselors, who are also recovering addictts themselves. They helped me with my bible studies and gave me the knowledge to overcome my addition. Thirty days later, I was released.
My "accomplice" decided to get a high priced attorney, and fight the charges that way. I couldn't do this, and I thought it better to pray for help from GOD instead of man.
(" The heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord") I prayed for God's will be done in my life and that He might move the judge to grant me undeseverved mercy.
THE TRIAL
A dispute arose between the prosecuting attorneys and the high-priced lawyer of my accomplice. There was an annymosity from the court and the prosecuting attorneys towards the out of state attorney of my accomplice. Her attourney wanted us to be tried together. The prosecuting attorney was doing everything he could to thwart the efforts of her attorney. He insisted that we be tried seperratly. This is where trusting in God saved me from prison. Had I been tried with my accomplice, I would have recieved the same sentence she did. The hand of God split our trials using the annymosity between the two attorneys.
I could not afford to obtain legal council on my own. So I was forced to use the public defender as my leagal representation. He did not want the case and even filled several motions to be remove as my attorney with the courts. The court granted no such motions. I was offered three seperate plea-bargans. All of which included serving three or more years in prison. I decided to take my chances and go on to a jury trial. Agianst the advise of my attorney. On the day of my jury selection, the day before trial. The judge offered me the opportunity to plead directly to the court. In other words, plea directly to the judge throwing myself on the mercy of the court rather than going through a trial. This is exactly what I did. The judge and prosecuting attourney in agreement with one another reduced my charges to three class "C" felonies and one class "A" misdemeanor. I plead guilty to all four charges. However, the judge postponed my sentencing until after the trial of my friend, to see if I would testify agianst her or not.
My friend went to trial with her out-of-state attourney. I prayed that I would not have to testify agianst her. On the last day of her trial she realized she was going to go to prison for a very long time. She chose to skip-out and go on the run. They continued the trial in her absence. The prosecution rested it's case without calling me to testify. GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS! She was sentenced to 73 years in prison. She was in possession of only 7seven pounds of marijuana a small amount of paraphernalia and her father's guns. Currently, she has been apprehended and is in prison attempting an appeal.
I recieved 31 years for 3 class "C" felonies and 1 class "A" misdemeanor. This sentence is to run cuncurrent and be suspended, conditional upon successful completion of 10 years of probation, payment of over $1,300.00 in fines, and 100 hours of community service work.
I have been clean since June 19th 1999. I have paid over half of my fines, and completed ALL of my community service work.
So, at this time. I ask that you not only pray for me and my family and our continued prosperity,health,and growing faith in GOD, but for my friend Tracy too. That she may find peace, justice, and most importantly GOD.
If you have any further questions, or comments. Please feel free to contact me by e-mail at Suesie-Q@webtv.net
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