Whenever a pregnant woman enters the prison system, God help her if she does not have a faithful husband standing by when their baby is due. 

She is taken to the hospital and there gives birth.  It may be placed on her chest momentarily.  A prison guard is standing by to watch everything that goes on and prevent the mother from escaping! though she is shackled to the bed.

A nurse picks up the newborn and takes it out of the room and the new mother will most likely never see her child again nor know where she has gone.  DHS and prison officials take care of that.  As efficiently as was done in Hitler’s Baby Farms.  There, however, the mother was given a special silver Maltese Cross as a reward for providing the Fatherland with fresh meat. 

As soon as the prisoner is transportable she is taken back to her prison cell to serve out her sentence; be it two years or twenty.  It does not matter; unless she has a faithful husband who is qualified to care for her infant she will never see her child again.  End of story! for the mother of the child.

Just the beginning for the motherless child. 

I worked with DHS for ten years.  I met a lot of foster parents.  Some good, some not so good.  DHS does not usually pay what it costs to keep a child.  But there are foster parents who take on the kids ,just for the money. 

“You don’t need a new coat; we’ll patch that one.”

DHS will not pay for a musical instrument so a child can play in the orchestra.  Do you know what a new clarinet costs?  For me to watch my Joseph play first clarinet in 6^th grade was worth it.  I built near sound-proof walls in our 3,100 square foot four bedroom home but that clarinet pierced them with ease I could not very well enjoy Berlioz when Joseph practiced but his practice was music enough. I had the privilege of listening to the birth of another Benny Goodman.  Though Itzhak Perlman/Brahms  is more my style.

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DHS would not pay for a lot of things kids need.  I should rephrase that.  DHS pays for everything a child needs.  A child in DHS care is just determined to need somewhat less than the neighbor kid next door who is living a normal life. 

Buy the cheap diapers to save money.  Change them less often only when absolutely necessary to make them last longer.  Buy powdered milk or, know a lactose intolerant old couple getting state commodities.  Get it free. 

Does the child want the responsibility of a pet?  Forget it!

Does the child like to fish?  Forget it.  That is not necessary.  However, there was a trout stream running through my sixteen acres in Idaho.  I bought three sets of fishing gear and I don’t fish. 

I didn’t make very much money raising foster kids in Idaho.  Some foster parents did.  I must have been doing something wrong.  The DHS checks did help with expenses. 

I changed diapers when the child’s diapers were wet or dirty.  Because I loved the child; not because I had to and it was a job and I was paid to do it.  There was a lot of contact and never was the TV a babysitter.  

I had another advantage:  Military Disability retirement.  I did not have to go off to work and farm out my kids to day care centers.  My kids were not latch-key kids.  Whenever they had a problem and needed to talk I was there. 

Four of my kids I took on canoe trips on the Snake River in Wyoming.  DHS did not cover those costs not something that is deemed necessary for a child. 

My first foster child I brought to Oklahoma on a vacation which included water skiing on Grand Lake.  She was 16.  Never been in a boat; much less on water skis.  Another not so small expense DHS does not cover.

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So what happens when a destitute mother to be who is going to lose her child forever to the fate DHS determines is best for the child.? 

The following two cases are an example.  The mother agrees to the arrangement and conditions of adoption or is simply out of the picture and never sees her child again.  The agreement includes periodic visitation privileges. 

 Case 1, four visits a year are allowed.  Then the parents relocate to an unknown locale so far in distance that visits area permitted by law, but impossible.  The child is gone forever, or until the child reaches an age of almost maturity and is able to try to locate its biologic mother.  Nothing prevents the child being told its mother is dead.

Case 2, the adopting parents allow frequent visits with her child but the mother must not discipline her (own) child.  She must also remain silent concerning the harsh corporal punishment lest she lose her visiting privilege.  There again, as in the first case, relocation is a factor and visiting at all, though permitted by law, becomes impossible. 

The mother with a prison record has virtually no rights. 

What rights she does have I would compare with one I have:

Fifteen and more years ago, before my first cardiac infarction and four years of illegal incarceration, I had a right to swim across the lake I overlook from my front porch.  I exercised that right many times.  I still have that right.  But since my infarctions and the physical damage done me by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections I am quite incapable of exercising that right.  I might be able to make it twenty feet.

The ex-con has a right to look for her child.  Sometimes.

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When Sheila Miller learned that John has helped some inmates with various issues including transportation and clothing and even help with a residence upon their release Sheila Miller asked Marie if John would help when she is released.  That presented no problem; Sheila Miller has a job waiting for her in Enid and John frequents Vance Air Force Base just west of Enid.  Also, John has a relative living in Enid.  It would be no problem for John to help Sheila find a suitable residence in Enid.  Help with rent? 

The first check John wrote for that kind of help that is needed was November 22nd, 2004, one week after his court ordered release, for $500.  No payback was asked or expected and it was refused when offered.  That ex incarcerated person now has a decent job and is making her own house payments with her new husband. 

John has written letters to the Parole Board and family of one Doyle Dobson (ODOC # 114109 DOB 10/05/30) supporting his release and providing transportation and whatever is necessary for his return to the outside world.   Doyle had served 25 calendar years of a 25-75 year sentence, though DOC considers only the maximum 75 years applicable, taking it upon themselves to play God which is why such indeterminate sentences have been ruled illegal by the Supreme Court.  Doyle has served the legal part of his sentence and beyond with no misconducts of any kind.   Recidivism is an impossibility.

This effort failed as Doyle Dobson’s family did not want him out; Doyle has since became quite senile, incontinent and is now in a DOC infirmary for his remaining few days of life. 

John has written letters to the Parole Board and Judge Buxton in Cleveland County concerning another inmate’s release advising them of providing transportation, establishment in residence and whatever else is necessary that the person needs to smoothly assimilated as a productive member of society whatever state this inmate chooses to reside in (Texas, I’m told) and nothing is expected in return. 

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John knows what it would have been like when he was ordered released without even the $50. owed by DOC they welched on that as well as street clothes (He stopped at a tag office to have his driver’s license renewed, at no cost due to his age, and drove the rest of the way home in his rented car, in prison clothes)  without a rental car waiting until he could get his truck out of storage, without a residence waiting, without an income, the impossibility of getting a job and Social Security usually takes six months or longer after filing.  

Without all that, where is a released inmate going to get help?  There are missionaries that provide a cot in a dormitory and a soup line but such a struggle for many is successful as pushing a chain up hill. 

Is that a good place to raise a child? 

Sheila Miller is expecting her child in August.  If it lives, she deserves good care from someone who will care for that infant out of love; not because they are a paid nanny by the State.  When Sheila Miller wants her child back she certainly cannot properly care for it in a church dormitory; she will need a home.  But if DHS takes it, getting her back or even knowing where she is; her chances are slim to none. 

Would John take care of that infant, no strings attached, for an indefinite period of time?  Sheila asked that of Marie.  Out of love for a child, John’s answer was in a heartbeat!  John never turned away a foster child.  That child would be far less difficult to properly care for than Rockland Barney, a two-year old mute quadriplegic with less communicative skills than a new-born infant!

 Rockland could not cry (I’m hungry, I pooped, I’m wet, I’m uncomfortable, I’m lonely or scared) nor even had the capacity to chew and swallow food!). 

John would take care, proper loving care, medical inclusive, of Sheila’s child, no strings attached, for an indefinite period of time in a heartbeat. 

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This bodhisattva "Samaritan" act is why My eighty pound Gilda Marie Schoonover was shackled by Captain Roman and cast into the SHU dungeon of Mabel Basset Prison 1300 hours June 14^th 2005. 

There was no criminal act or even any improper act or what is called “bad acts” to warrant abusing Marie as DOC has done.  So why did they?

There is alleged to have been passed to one of the staff a note from an anonymous inmate stating that Marie and her husband (his name was not known) bought or attempted to “buy a baby” from an inmate, assumed to be Sheila Miller, for the purchase price of $10,000. 

When John FIRST went to the prison to find out “why” and expeditiously solve the riddle why Marie was cast into their dungeon  the truth was not wanted. 

First, the anonymous accusation is no less than a gross insult to the Schoonover’s intelligence.  Although John is three years older than Clint Eastwood when he had his last child John is somewhat younger than Isaac when he sired Jacob.  Isaac hadn’t been illegally imprisoned in Oklahoma and experience several cardiac infarctions, either.  The fact is, anyone with any common sense knows that it has been illegal to “purchase babies” in the North since 1864 and in Oklahoma since at least 1906.  Why would anyone even want to “purchase” a baby?

Why is Mabel Basset so eager to punish on such a flimsy note?  I don’t believe it is that at all!  I believe it is what John wrote to attorney Shera Shirley of Enid about the abuse of the high risk pregnancy of Sheila Miller by Officer Garrett.

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The chronological chain of events bears this out.

The letter to the attorney was written June 2^nd.

John Visited Marie on the 5^th of June.  This was the last date John would take with him his 7 month old 85lb Akita; leaving him in the front of the truck.  Summer was coming on and “Tiny,” as John has named him, had gotten too hot in the truck even with the windows half down.  There was nothing out of the ordinary during the visit; the officer in charge of their drug dog was in the visiting room.  He did not speak to John though he and John exchanged “nods” in passing.  John does not care for him as John does not approve of the abusing of animals and John has seen how the drug dogs are kicked and jerked about and neglected and knows how they are artificially addicted to certain drugs so they can “sniff them out.”  This shortens their miserable life existence considerably. 

Having raised cattle for twenty years John is no stranger to the necessity of shooting a predator attacking livestock.  John has never shot any predator, be it stray dog, bob cat, wolf, coyote,  fox or even a skunk, “just for fun.”  John has seen  wandering dogs just walking across the field being shot with DOC M16 machine guns for no purpose other than “just because they can.” 

June 6^th This same drug dog officer, who had ample opportunity to talk to John the day before, told Marie that if John brought his dog to the prison again his dog would be destroyed. 

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That evening Marie told John this and John related what he had seen with DOC owned M-16s used on wandering dogs and stated that it was a cowardly act for the officer to tell Marie as he did rather than simply stop at the visiting table and ask John not to bring Tiny to the prison again…for whatever reason he could make up or even none.  John stated that it was a cowardly threat by the officer and John would never commit such a cowardly act of shooting harmless and helpless dogs with an M-16.  John further reminded that he couldn’t even if he wanted to as John has never owned or had in his possession an M-16 or any other similar weapon.  They (M-16s) are as worthless as their counter parts except in combat situations such as Viet Nam and Iraq.  It is also illegal to own them.  Having one in one’s possession is a ticket to the Levenworth vacation facility for a minimum of 3,650 days.

Nothing more was said; the conversation ended; Marie called John 5 more evenings and John visited Marie the 12^th; he did not take Tiny with him but left him in his air-conditioned house; there were no “accidents” in the home; John’s dog is extremely well educated.  Just like John’s kids, John does not have to yell at his four-legged friend, beat him, kick him or drag him around on a choking chain like are the DOC drug dogs.  John’s Akita is his only companion.  It was certainly not necessary to cowardly go through Marie to threaten to destroy John’s only companion. 

Marie called John Sunday night following the June 12th visit as she usually does and Monday evening as she usually does.  Nothing was amiss.

Come Tuesday June 14^th Marie is cast into their dungeon without explanation.  She is “under investigation” and that is all that is known. 

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John writes the letters you have read in the first part of this chapter and receives a call June 23^rd from Jerry Chrisman; deputy warden who assured John that Marie was getting her mail.

Whether Jerry Chrisman is a liar or just uninformed is not known and the accusation will not be made.  What IS known is that Marie has not been allowed any mail from John or even her own Mother as of July 5^th, the date this is written!   This fact is not reflected in the letter from Millicent Newton-Embry, Warden, who writes John, postmark June 28^th, after Marie had been in their dungeon 14 days without explanation:

“On Thursday, June 23, 2005, Deputy Warden Chrisman called you to discuss the correspondence you sent to me dated June 21, 2005.  You advised him that, after sending the correspondence to me, you had indeed received correspondence from your wife and that this was no longer an issue.”   

A “half truth.”  John received ONE letter from Marie but she has still not been allowed any correspondence from him or anyone else for twenty one days!  Thus it IS still a concern for John.  She knows we are writing. 

“Additionally, if you wish to hire an attorney for your wife, the attorney would be authorized to visit under the procedures for attorney visits with inmates.”

It had been nine days in their dungeon at this time and Marie had still been denied her right to a visit with her attorney.  Nine days without any legal representation.

“With regard to your perception of security procedures related to pregnant inmates, these practices are handled within the guidelines of the Department of Corrections policies and procedures.”

That is credible assurance there is not the 10% of rotten apples in their system that Jerry Chrisman told John about.

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The “policies and procedures” also stipulate level 1 inmates are allowed two 15 minute phone calls per week; Wednesday and Saturday.  Officer Captain Roman has overruled this rule; Marie has NOT been allowed to call her husband or anyone else in over three weeks. 

This crisis was created by an anonymous unsubstantiated note from an inmate and the desire to punish, punish, punish.  Quite contrary to their Ops concerning education, rehabilitation and goal of re-entry.  Like Russia’s Constitution.  Well written for display; ignored in reality. 

Millicent Newton-Embry has obviously studied the works of Dr. Che Guavera, the right hand man of Fidel Castro in the overthrow of Cuba:  “When you make an inappropriate action,  create a crisis to justify it.”  In such a manner many good people lost their lives to that tyrant.  Her following letter is a work of art Dr. Che would be proud of:

Postmarked June 28^th, same as the other letter,

“This notice is to advise you that effective immediately, your visiting privileges with inmate Gilda Marie Schoonover DOC #404171 have been suspended indefinitely.

This decision was made based on your telephone conversation with Inmate Schoonover on June 6, 2005, threatening to bring an M-16 weapon into this facility.  You are also a principle suspect in a criminal investigation being conducted by the Department of Corrections Security and Investigation Division, which involves you and Inmate Schoonover. 

Should you have any questions concerning my decision you may address them to my office.”

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A crisis created in the manner taught by Dr. Che.  A little late, perhaps, as this allegation pertains to June 6, John receives calls and visits June 12, there is no crisis yet, must make one up three weeks later, June 28. Dr. Che would be proud.  Though he would probably not have waited so long to create the “crisis” to cover his mistakes.  A complete transcript of the entire conversation would reveal that there was never any M-16 at any time but for those owned by DOC for shooting prisoners and harmless dogs.

Some people just plain like to kill.  I do not know why. 

That threat would shut John up from writing what he has seen in DOC if there was any validity to it.  It was a “Crisis created” with phantom M-16s that caused the burning to death of more than eighty men, women and Children at their religious retreat in Waco Texas some years back.  None were found in the ashes. 

It was a phantom weapon that was used to justify the shooting in the back of the head of Randy Weaver’s wife at Ruby Ridge in Idaho.  “If you don’t have a crisis to justify your actions, create one.”

Marie was released from the Mabel Basset Dungeon Friday, July 1.  Having been deprived of her vitamins and food supplements she weighed out at 80 lbs.  She was not taken to see a physician and given any medical examination though it is highly suspected that she has suffered a mini-stroke due to the stress and dangerously high blood pressure. Her hour-long visit through glass July 3^rd was allowed to last less than twenty minutes.   Her eyes are hollow and the look of total despair has reshaped her facial features.  She talks like one in a trance redundantly begging John to get her out of there.  “Why doesn’t John Write me?”  The cruelty DOC has done to this innocent woman is no less than, except for the furnaces, Auschwitz.  Dr. Dvorkian would treat her more humanely.

                      Sent to Pam 0100 July 5, 2005