FREE KEVIN WALSH

Today I received a letter from Kevin Walsh, the first I've heard from him since he was transferred to the jail.

I typed an exact copy up and that transcript is below, together with the address as I read it from the hand-written envelope.

I will let it speak for itself.

Best!

Eric

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21 October 2004.

Dear Eric,

I would have contacted you sooner but was unable to do so. As it is, I don’t know if this letter will reach you. The FBI and Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputies arrested me at Desert Vista on 8 October. Dr. Lippman said he would tell my mother what had happened, but I have not been allowed to make any telephone calls. So Laro Nicol and Mike Ross probably don’t know what has happened to me. I was initially told I was to have no writing materials either, but a guard gave me a pencil and another inmate gave me some paper and a stamped envelope, so I will try writing to you.

I am in the psychiatric unit of the Madison Street Jail, and I have been indicted of three counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, a class two felony with a presumptive sentence of ten years. Bail was raised to $108,000 by a judge who called me “an extreme danger to the community,” so it is unlikely I will be released anytime soon. I was arraigned on the 15th and my next court date will be for a pre-trial conference on 19 November. I have not yet met with my public defender, but I have met with a private attorney retained by my mother, Phil Noland.

Mr. Noland believes this will be a difficult case as the definition of assault is placing someone in reasonable apprehension of physical harm, and it does not matter that I tried to draw my pistol for suicide if so doing caused the cops to fear that homicide was my aim. He said that since the pistol never left the holster, he can make the argument that it was never wielded. It seems that in trying to kill myself, I created my own nightmare of the government throwing the book at me.

The first week I was in solitary confinement in a cockroach-infested cell with no books, toothpaste bed or showers. Initially I had no clothes either, but after three days I was issued a jail uniform (black and white stripes with pink underwear). I still have no books or toothbrush, but they let me out of my cell once a day to take a shower, and my current cell has a bunk and no cockroaches. It is still like solitary confinement, as inmates get their hour out separately and can only talk through the walls. I am told I am a “closed custody” inmate. I must wear handcuffs and leg irons whenever I am taken from my cellblock, so apparently I am considered among the most dangerous inmates.

I was not initially allowed any visitors, but now my mother is allowed to see me Mondays and Thursdays for half an hour. Visits are through plexiglass and by telephone. She is not allowed to give me anything. I have started to receive the letters she sent, so it appears my mail is not entirely cut off.

Try writing me here, as my mother is unable to bring my mail to me. Do not send books or other items with your letters, as most jails and prisons require books to be sent only by the publisher.

Although this is a psychiatric unit, little psychiatry is practiced here. I have seen my doctor only a few times for a few minutes each. He has reestablished me on the Risperidone I was taking at Desert Vista. Some of the practices here seem more medieval than modern. One example is the practice of “four pointing” unruly inmates – stretching them out and chaining each limb to a bed. There is also a special diet called “the loaf” for discipline problems. I have never tasted the loaf, but the regular food is bad enough. We eat only two meals each day, though Sheriff Arpaio claims they add up to the 2900 calories needed for good health.

Please write and telephone my mother, Rose Walsh (***) ***-****, to confirm that you’ve written in case I don’t get the letter.

Comradely,

Kevin

Address:

Kevin Walsh
PO16319 6-1-B11
Madison Jail
225 West Madison Street
Phoenix, AZ 85003
USA