CANNABIS CULTURE – Do you remember several months ago when I asked you to call the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office on my behalf? They were drilled with thousands of phone calls that eventually led to my release and our family getting our handicapped son, Zack, returned to us. We have been enjoying the reunion with Zack and I feel like our family is whole again. Candi and I cannot thank you enough for getting involved and helping us. Thank you, thank you and thank you.
One of my new clients, an 18-year-old young man, Tanner Passarella, and his father, Fred, now needs your help. While attending high school in Utah, Tanner made an “F” on his report card and was sentenced to criminal juvenile probation. Tanner then tested positive for synthetic pot, Spice, so the judge removed Tanner from the custody of his father and placed him in foster care. When Tanner began receiving threats from the “gang-type” foster kids, he ran away to be with his father. Hearing of this, the judge incarcerated Tanner where he remains injured and against his will at the juvenile detention center.
At the time Tanner made and “F” on his report card, he was considered a super senior with college credits for diesel mechanics. Tanner was employed by a major company making $20 per hour to help support his disabled father, Fred. Because of his current incarceration (his is now 18 years old and graduated from high school), Tanner is unable to work even though the owner of the company has provided a letter to the judge stating Tanner was one of the best employees he has ever had and he has a job waiting for him upon his release. Fred has spent all of his retirement on failed lawyers and trips trying to free his son. Tanner’s mother, a former mine inspector, died from complications from PTSD when Tanner was 10 years old.
You heard correctly, Tanner was never caught with anything illegal, has no criminal record and was removed from his home and sentenced to juvenile detention for making and “F” and peeing dirty for Spice.
At first, I couldn’t believe such madness was taking place so I began investigating and secretly recorded a phone conversation between Tanner’s juvenile probation officer and myself. I tricked the probation officer and claimed to be a concerned parent and after being asked several times, I assured him he was not being recorded. In the recording, the probation officer admits to the madness and advised if my son were in this situation, he would fight like hell. The probation officer then shows concerns about the judge discovering he admitted to this. Listen to the recording.
Last week, renowned reporter Stephen Webster with Raw Story uncovered a story of this same judge physically slapping a 16 year old across the face and in a separate case, ordering a 12 year old girl to be strip-searched and forcing the mother to cut off her ponytail in court. Fox news reported the story last night after Raw Story’s release.
Upon hearing of Tanner’s case, Utah State Representative, Kristeen Watkins, went before the judge demanding Tanner’s release. The judge instructed her that nobody was going to tell him what to do. State Representative Watkins then visited Tanner at the detention center. She is a very compassionate woman and is a good example of how our politicians should respond to such injustices.
Tanner is currently incarcerated at the Odyssey House in Salt Lake City Utah and still suffers from a broken ankle and wrist that the Odyssey House is refuses to treat. Tanner suffered the injuries in a car accident and obtained a prescription to have the injuries X-rayed but until last week, he was left unattended. The juvenile system finally X-rayed his injuries and confirmed his ankle and wrist are indeed broken. However, he still has not received medical care for these injuries.
It is our goal and now your goal to demand Tanner’s release and allow him to use his hard earned education to return to his $20/hour job and help support his disabled father.
This can be accomplished by making a few phone calls like you did for my family and I.
Please call the following and demand Tanner’s release. Be polite but bold as if this were your child injured and incarcerated.
Scott Larson/Juvenile Probation officer with Juvenile Detention that I tricked:
Office: 435 636 4723
Cell: 435 820 6708
Christina Neilson/Director of Adolescent Service/Odyssey House
Office: 801 428 3440
Cell: 801 884 7264
Judge, Scott Johansen/7th District Juvenile/Utah Judicial Conduct Commission
Office: 801 626 3369.
Call and give this lady your support and thank her for being involved:
Kristeen Watkins/Utah State Representative
Office: 435 650 1969
Thanks for your help and consideration in this matter. My efforts have never been a ‘one man show’ and have always needed the activism of readers like you.
Peace and Love
