
62-year old Willie Simmons from Alabama, has been in prison for the past 28 years for stealing $9. You read right, $9!. Smh. He had 3 prior convictions, and was convicted of 1st-degree robbery and was sentenced to life without parole in 1983 due to Alabamaβs Habitual Offender law.
A reporter from WBRC by the name of Beth Shelburne, shared Simmonβs ideals on Twitter after a conversation with him.
According to Shelburne, Simmons is an Army veteran who became addicted to drugs while overseas. He was 25-years old when the state βsaid he should die in prison.β He hasnβt even had a visitor since 2005, the same time his sister passed away.
He has been in incarcerated in Holman Correctional Facility in Escambia County, Alabama which is none as the βmost violent prisons in the country.β Now at the age of 62, he is studying for his GED, trying to βstay away from the wild bunch.β
Simmons doesnβt deny the crime he committed that landed him in prison for life. He admitted to he was βhigh on drugsβ when he wrestled a man to the ground and stole his wallet that contained $9, as he said he was βtrying to get a quick fix.β
Simmons said his trial only lasted about 25 minutes. He said his appointed attorney didnβt call on any witness and the prosecutors didnβt offer a plea deal although his prior offenses were non-violent. βThey kept saying weβll do our best to keep you off the streets for good,β he said.
He has filed for several appeals even without an attorney over the years, yet they were all denied. He said, βIn a place like this, it can feel like youβre standing all alone. I ainβt got nobody on the outside to call and talk to. Sometimes I feel like Iβm lost in outer space.β
Simmons is hoping his cruel sentence could be reconsidered. βYes, Iβve been hoping and praying on it,β he said. βI ainβt giving up.β
Simmons still dreams someday he will be free and live a normal life. βMy hope is to get out of here, settle down with a woman and do Godβs will,β he said. βIβd like to tell people about how bad drugs are.β
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