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My fiance, Frank, was on probation for conspiracy to commit
burglary.
He got a "DUI" [driving under the influence of alcohol]
and was sent back to the county jail.
I feel guilty about it
every day.
It was my idea for us to go out.
While he was waiting for his probation revocation hearing, his probation officer contacted me. He claimed that if I paid Frank's "fines and costs," Frank would go free. "Free and clear" is what the probation officer said; no revocation for the DUI. The "fines" totaled over $5000 which I didn't have. I offered the man $2500 and included a guaranty to pay $200 per month. He accepted the offer. The next day I took the $2500 to the probation office (not to the court). Within 45 minutes I was able to pick Frank up at the county jail. We went back to the probation office and Frank signed a new probation agreement. He was placed on a "call-in" status because we live three and a half hours from Northumberland County where his probation was. The agent assure us that Frank's probation wouldn't be revoked. When the time came, we went together to face his hearing on the DUI. He intended to simply plead guilty having already paid off the agent. On the way, our car broke down! We immediately phoned the DA and the probation officer explaining the problem. The DA's office said not to worry, that they would take care of it. Since we'd gotten all our former hearing dates by mail, we assumed that we'd be informed about the rescheduling of the hearing in the same way; stupid move. Three weeks later 3 car-loads of cops surrounded the house. We were arrested for "failure to appear" at a hearing. Frank was sent to Northumberland County and went right before a judge. He thought it would just be on the misunderstanding over "failing to appear," but the judge revoked his probation at the same time! This was after the probation agent and his boss had told me that, if I paid them money, the probation wouldn't be revoked! His sentence was much greater that the statutory guidelines; one and a half years instead of 90 days! He also got 1.5 to 3 years for the probation violation! An inmates' rights advocacy group called the Lewisburg Prison Project, went to see Frank. They are helping him file an appeal. When I contacted the probation office and told them about the appeal, the chief had a fit! I mean, this guy was screaming at me over the phone. I confronted him about the money I'd paid and the verbal contract which assured that probation wouldn't be revoked. The man tried to confuse and intimidate me. He now claimed that Frank's probation was revoked because he failed to appear for the hearing. It didn't work. I told him in no uncertain terms that he shouldn't confuse me with one of his parolees. I'd heard what he'd said. I said that he was corrupt! By that time he seemed on the verge of a having a stroke. I went on to call the DA's office. They confirmed that Frank's probation had been revoked for the DUI, not the failure to appear. I called the public defender's office. They said that they were "very interested" in my information. They said that they expected Frank to be released that very day, but the chief from the probation office called them. Then the public defenders wouldn't even talk to me. Extortion! I swear to God, this is extortion! [Editor's Comment: Shakedowns are fairly common in the so- called "law enforcement" industry. We don't know what's going in the Sunbury, Pennsylvania, but maybe someone should investigate. "You're an attorney; it's your duty to lie, conceal
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