Tuesday, December 26, 2017
Holiday Newsletter 2017
We began
January, 2017, with continuing preparations for the expected parole hearing due
this year. We already had key pieces in place. First, the incomparable “Prisoners of Christ” program in Jacksonville, a
faith-based private residential transition and re-entry program that prepares
ex-offenders for life in free society and has been in continuous successful
operation since the early 1990s, had confirmed they were ready to accept
Charlie upon his release. Additionally, Charlie had the support of prominent
businessman, Kevin Gay, founder of “Operation
New Hope,” a program for
ex-offenders that provides jobs and training.
Second, the
preeminent psychologist, Dr. Harry Krop, of Gainesville, had previously
re-tested Charlie and written a highly-favorable evaluation that confirmed
Charlie’s status as a well-balanced man who has survived decades of
imprisonment with his mental health
intact, something everyone who knows him already knew. Dr. Krop stated that
Charlie’s risk factors for recidivism were in the lowest five percentile of the
prison population. This priceless evaluation was specifically notable since
most people who have been imprisoned for decades become institutionalized and
suffer irreparable damage in mind and body from the years of isolation and
neglect. Charlie has spent his entire imprisonment educating himself and others
in a variety of programs and skill areas, many of which he created and
implemented. He has deliberately worked to keep himself engaged and plugged-in
to the “outside” world, keeping up with society, and in touch with a variety of
real people to stave off the isolation. Charlie has been preparing for his
release since the day he came to prison.
The third
essential piece of our parole plan was
granted in January. Charlie’s sentencing judge in 1980, J. Rogers Padgett, of Tampa, now a senior judge
and still hearing cases, wrote a letter to the parole commission stating that
not only did he not object to Charlie’s release, but also that he supported his
parole release. Judge Padgett further stated that in his opinion, Charlie was
in complete compliance with Florida Statute 947.18, the controlling law on
parole.
Then came
April, 2017, bringing the high point
of the year thus far when Charlie met with parole examiner, Z.C. Rowan, an investigator
with over 40 years of experience with parolees. Based on Charlie’s parole
release plan and his prison record of unparalleled positive accomplishments,
Mr. Rowan approved Charlie’s parole release for July 4, 2017 –Independence Day!
Shortly after that, his parole hearing was set for May 24. All the pieces were
in place, and pointed to a good outcome on May 24th, our 3rd
wedding anniversary.
At the
parole hearing before the Florida Commission on Offender Review in Tallahassee on May 24th,
the commissioners refused to authorize the July 4th release date,
and postponed their final decision to another hearing on July 19, 2017, at
which time they “suspended” his release date. Again, Charlie was denied a fair and impartial
hearing. The commissioners are three novices who were approved for appointment
to their jobs by the two politicians who oppose Charlie’s release. Because of
this continuing political tampering by the former prosecutor and his protégé,
the attorney general (acting on political payback), and despite Attorney Bill
Sheppard’s impassioned presentation at both hearings, the commissioners refused
to honor all the experts who supported Charlie’s parole release.
That was
the low point of 2017. Instead of preparing Charlie’s welcome home, we geared
ourselves to endure and survive more of this wrongful imprisonment. With Mr.
Sheppard and associates, we have begun preparations for a court fight.
In August
and early September, we missed 3 weekends of visits due to the hurricanes, as
the state prisons were all closed to visitation. Other than that, thankfully
the hurricanes did not cause any other major damage. In August, Charlie was again heartened and
cheered by a visit from his long-time friend and supporter, Gary Smigiel and
his wonderful family. We continue to be in contact with Charlie’s lovely and
thoughtful mother, Lucille, his Aunt Alice, his brother, Dan, and nieces and
nephews, in addition to Aunt Glenda Walker and family in Texas. It is very difficult for our loved
ones to visit in person, so we are grateful for the telephone, e-mail, and
letters.
In September,
out of the clear blue, Charlie’s first cousin, Sue Jones, contacted us by
e-mail. Charlie says, “Her mother, my
Aunt Frankie Lee Hatchell, was my father’s older sister. After my father’s
death in 1985, Aunt Frankie and Aunt Eloise, my father’s youngest sister, visited me in prison at Zephyrhills C.I. I’d
spent little time with my Norman relatives growing up, but after we
reconnected, Frankie, Eloise and I became much closer. They are all gone now,
and to hear from my cousin, Sue, touched me greatly.”
One more
incident of note that happened one afternoon at the Orange Park Mall, south of Jacksonville when Libby
made a purchase at one of the stores at the mall and got into a conversation
with the sales clerk, Dawn. She suggested that Libby register her e-mail address
to receive sales notices and coupons, so Libby filled out the form with the
freecharlie e-mail. Dawn asked what the “freecharlie” meant, was it a certain
name. Libby told her it did mean something, but it was too much to explain. She
asked if it referred to Charles Norman. Flabbergasted, Libby said it did. Dawn
said, “I’ve been following Charles on the
Internet, and so have many of my friends. He has been in prison too long, and
should be released.” After they talked some more, Libby left the store,
elated, amazed at what had just happened, a totally random contact of
familiarity and support. That’s the
power of the Internet.
Also
recently, in another surprise contact, we received an e-mail from a new friend,
Gary M., who had read about Charlie’s case and was so affected by the injustice
of it that he contacted Andrew Warren, the new Hillsborough County
state attorney, and is continuing to work with him on Charlie’s behalf. We are
very grateful for these new blessings that have brought hope.
In October,
Charlie embarked on a new job as “impaired inmate assistant,” and helps blind,
crippled, and deaf inmates in his housing area. Earlier this year, he also was
“treated” to a trip to Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville
for a procedure to remove kidney stones. Dr. Mark Abramson, a urologist from Jacksonville Memorial Hospital,
arranged for a CT scan, a cystoscopy,
and X-rays, which turned up two kidney stones. Charlie says, “I was outfitted in handcuffs, a waist chain,
and leg irons, then transported in a prison van to the hospital for an
ultrasound surgery. I was impressed by the kindness and professionalism of the
doctors, nurses and technicians at Jacksonville
Memorial Hospital.
After the ultrasound, three nurses kept me company for an hour, monitoring my
vitals, until I recovered. Another nurse, Mary, brought me a much-appreciated
hot meal of beef tips and gravy over rice and green beans, something
unavailable in prison “chow.” I did a lot of rubbernecking when we got off I-95
onto University Boulevard,
still amazed at the traffic congestion, the dozens of fast food places, car
lots, stores, and other businesses. I realized I was only a mile or two from
Libby’s downtown office, which made me wistful, sad that I should have been out of prison already, working at the “Prisoners of Christ” program, and seeing her every day, rather
than being chained up like a condemned man.”
This fall,
Libby has embarked on a new weight-training fitness program, with good results,
realizing that the future demands good health. We both intend to be “here” when
Charlie is released, and desire to live as long a life together as we are
allowed.
All through
2017, Charlie has been continuing with his writing and artwork. He currently
has several articles published by Loen Kelley in New York, on www.prisonwriters.com,
and we continue postings on the blog, charlienorman.blogspot.com. He continues
working on his drawing techniques, several examples of which are offered in
this booklet for your enjoyment. We continue matching these drawings with his
poetry to create additions to our greeting card collection.
We are both
determined, and we will not give in to the low points or give up the fight to
secure our much-deserved freedom. We maintain our faith in God, and in the hope
that prayers will be answered. We are abundantly blessed by the love and
support of family and friends, and always give thanks for all that has been
bestowed on us. We greet the future clad in this armor.
May you and yours have a joyous and prosperous 2018. Please
keep in touch.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Charlie and Libby
Norman
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
HURRICANE IRMA SUNFLOWER
Dateline
Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017
Over 30 prisons in the South Florida area were evacuated over the past weekend,
Sept. 7 – 11, 2017, in anticipation of Hurricane Irma’s landfall. The prison system
is very skilled at moving crowds of people, and Florida Highway Patrol troopers
escorted dozens of prison transport buses to safer prisons in North
Florida. Here at Columbia Annex C.I., already filled to capacity
with about 1600 men, we hunkered down, waiting out the high winds and rain. At
least a couple hundred evacuees were housed at the main unit next door.
Without law library access (every
activity cancelled). and not wanting to squander the time opportunity, I began work on a colored pencil drawing of my
second-favorite flower, a giant sunflower.
When I was a child in East Texas in the 1950’s, my grandmother, Memaw Walker,
planted a vegetable garden every year. Along the fence she always planted a
windbreak of sunflowers, and the huge yellow blooms fascinated me. In prison,
over the past 39-plus years, I’ve had opportunities to plant my own flower and vegetable
gardens at various prisons I found myself in. Sunflowers were almost always
there, along with my favorite flowers, roses.
At Tomoka C. I. in Daytona Beach, I grew my biggest sunflower,
over twelve feet tall, with an 18-inch giant bloom. The prison administration
heard about it, and made several treks to the compound to marvel at the mammoth
flower, along with the four-foot long Chinese radish. When officials from Tallahassee visited, the
warden would walk them down to show off the plantings, claiming bragging
rights.
Memaw would have been proud.
On a family note, my wife, Libby,
weathered the storm with limited inconvenience in Jacksonville. We spoke on the phone several
times until Monday afternoon, Sept. 11th, when the phone lines
belatedly failed. Before we were cut off, she did relay the news that our
family in Tampa
came out okay, although electricity is still off in spots [power was restored
by Sept. 13]. My mother, Lucille Norman, lost her 100-year old hickory tree in
her front yard, the old tree finally succumbing to Irma’s high winds. My Aunt
Alice Walker and the rest of the Norman family were blessedly spared the worst
of the storm’s fury. Prayers were answered.
Charlie
Sunday, September 10, 2017
OUR BEST FRIENDS ARE HEROES
Editor’s note: It is a fact that Charlie Norman loves
dogs, dogs of all kinds and sizes. He grew up with dogs around him, and has
nothing but good memories of dog experiences. In most prisons, the only dogs
are the dope/cell phone detection dogs which are allowed no interaction with
prisoners, so “dog love” is yet another feature that Charlie has been deprived
of for much too long.
Here is a story
from that esteemed publication, The Gainesville Sun, that caught Charlie’s eye.
It tells of an incident where a small Chihuahua, Coco, a “rescued” dog,
prevailed against a giant (compared to him) evil, a true story of a hero:
Gainesville
robber flees when Chihuahua attacks
08/24/17
“He’s a very, very good
dog,” said Coco’s owner.
The robber might have
thought little Coco, a 7-year-old Chihuahua, wouldn’t cause him any trouble
when he assaulted the woman taking the dog for a walk.
And he would have been
wrong.
Gainesville police say a
man about 5 feet, 9 inches tall approached the woman from behind as she walked
Coco at Bivens Cove Apartments, at 3301 SW 13th St., around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The robber struck her on the head with a glass bottle and demanded money.
Coco, a brown dog with
graying fur on his muzzle and around his eyes, bit the robber’s leg, and the
man fled into the nearby woods.
Coco was rewarded with
treats.
“He had a bone; he had
another bone,” said Blake Pfirrmann, 45, Coco’s owner and the woman’s caregiver
of 21 years. They live together, along with two other women.
For safety, the woman
who was attacked wished to remain anonymous.
The Gainesville Police
Department was unable to find the robber, who the woman said smelled of
alcohol. Officers urge anyone with information to call GPD’s detective bureau
at 393-7670.
At his home on
Wednesday, Coco barked at visitors, even as Pfirrmann held him. The dog growled
and trembled at first, but soon warmed up to the guests and welcomed petting
and Milk Bones, one of his favorite treats.
“He’s very, very
protective,” Pfirrmann said. “He bites if he feels endangered.”
After the robbery
attempt, the woman walked near the complex’s pool until she was sure the man
had gone. Then she returned to her apartment.
“I did not want him
following us,” she said.
She wasn’t carrying
money when the man tried to rob her; she was checking the mail.
The woman said neither
she nor Coco heard the robber come up from behind. The man was wearing jeans,
so she doesn’t know how deep the bite went.
She was wearing a
baseball hat sideways during the walk, and she thinks the man hit the cap’s
brim. The glass didn’t break. The woman suspects it was a beer bottle.
On Wednesday she had a
bruise on her temple.
Pfirrmann and the woman
have lived at Bivens Cove for about three years and had not experienced a
violent encounter there before. After the robbery, the woman wanted to move. On
Wednesday, she was uncertain.
“It’s everywhere,” she
said. “If you think about it, it’s everywhere you go.”
Pfirrmann said he has
begun warning neighbors to walk in more populated places in the complex.
Coco had been abused
before Pfirrmann adopted him four years ago, the man said. And four months ago,
Coco bit a woman who stepped on his paw.
But after Tuesday, Coco
is “a hero,” Pfirrmann said, and he plans to get him a badge.
At the home, Coco rested
his head on his housemates’ laps. He is chocolate in color, with big brown eyes
and a small white spot on his neck. His hobbies include sunbathing and
break-dancing on command, spinning on two legs and barrel rolling. He dances in
circles while he poops, which would be too much information if it weren’t so
endearing.
“He’s a very, very good
dog,” Pfirrmann said.
(photos below)
Upon reading the
story myself, I was struck with the similarity of Coco’s
actions and Charlie’s actions. Coco is a very
small dog, but he did not hesitate to use what attributes he has to protect
himself and his loved one, even though the attacker was a giant, much more
powerful than him. Charlie is forced to continue to defend himself against a
powerful giant of misused political authority that persists in using all manner
of illegal means to keep him buried in prison. Regardless of the odds, Charlie
keeps biting back to defend himself and survive for his loved ones. He is my
hero.
Libby
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