The consequences of one’s actions
I was in the booking section of the Calaveras County jail for my first time. I am drunker than Cooter Brown at this point. The intake officer, Chad Roots, was booking me in when they brought Dan in. We were laughing and joking even though we were absolutely not to talk to each other. They stopped booking me and did Dan first because he was 16, and I was legally an adult. So he got the preferential treatment. I really was a fucking idiot back then. And thought I was all that and a bag of chips.
It was after midnight by the time they go me to the cells, it was lights out an hour ago, and I was making a great impression yelling at the guards to hurry up,
open the god-damned door, so I could get some sleep. The door opened I walk into the bars, and I turned and slammed that big iron door and lt CLANGED SHUT LOUD…
Some dude told me to be quiet. I finally made it in the cell.
Woke up at 5:30 AM
by some harsh ass lights and with a banging hangover. Steve, who I meet later, says, well who do we get here? Shit boy, you don’t look old enough to be here. How old are you? Old enough! I said.
OH, OH hey Rodney we got us a little tough guy…
I am laying in my bunk when this big ole corn fed white boy stood and said how old are you man? Looked him in the eyes and said I am 18. No attitude, not showing any fear and honestly??? At that moment was still to hung over to care, Rodney and I hit it off, both of us were 18. I was from Arnold and just moved to angels camp yesterday.
Rodney was from Welseyville-West point area of the county. He was doing his stretch of county time. I was going to court and had a bail amount of $50,000.
I stayed in jail for I think 3 maybe 4 weeks. And then it happened. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing… My bail got reduced to $10,000. My best friend's Mom, Marcia. Came down that day and bonded me out of the Happy Hooligan Hotel.
I moved to Angels Camp, as originally planned with Bill Brown. I stayed for a while, But that is another story.
Not only that, but I went to court and had a decent attorney. Accepted a plea deal that was 10 months County time and 2 years felony probation. Did 6 out of 10 months. And I had some fun while I was there. Made Trustee had a few privileges, worked outside the jail. Up the hill about quarter mile was the County Dog pound.
And That is where I worked for four months of my time. The only time it sucked was Kill days. The gas chamber was for mass murder of animals. I had the option not to work on those days, but that meant staying in jail. So I participated in mass murder of cats and Dogs for a tiny bit of freedom.
I had a warrant in Modesto for petty theft, so I filed some paper and forced Modesto, they did come and get me and I went to court, ended up staying at their County farm. That was an experience, I went from the Hooligan to Cool Hand Luke type of living. I was sentenced to 30 days for petty theft, I thought I would go back to where my main time was being served, nope the Judge wanted me there.
So I spent that time at the Cool Hand Luke farm. Stanislaus County Detention Center. The coolest thing is I could have cash money. Fifteen Dollars on my person. I never heard of that. Mom and Kenny came to visit at the last minute, I’m on a mission for money from mom. Under normal conditions, not an easy task. But they were late, so after the hug I said mom!! I can have up to 15 Dollars, got any money? She pulled out 12 Dollars and gave it to me. After the visit was over, I went and flashed some money and let it be known that I wanted some weed.
I had been locked up for 4 months and was sober. Smoked a joint and was so high, but I was not all paranoid like the guy I shared with. Finished up In Modesto. When I returned to the little Jail I was used to, I only lost a few packs of Camels. I spent a couple of more weeks and was released in the Summer.
I still had two years of probation, and that will be another story.
