Transcript
Whats behind your Cabinet? By Erin Kuhn-Brown Going into my 20th year of incarceration, I found myself working as chapel porter #01. I enjoyed my work within the chapel, and witnessed alot of positive character changes in myself while I worked there. On October 17, 2019 while working in the chapel and cleaning out the closet, our chaplain, Burse had said we were throwing out a rusted out jagged metal cabinet and he asked about another filing cabinet & if there was a state sticker behind it. I let him know that there was one & we left that filing cabinet there. While emptying & moving out the first cabinet that he was throwing out, I noticed a state sticker & pulled it, and the cabinet was thrown out. The next day, God had really put it on my heart to just let him know that there was a sticker on the one we threw out & I just wanted him to know. In the course of talking with me he let me know that it was probably no big deal, especially with the condition of the cabinet. I asked if we had to let the warden know, and he said yes, and that was all that was said. Later that day as I had just come back to my room in my robe from the shower, I heard a mans voice stating "Man on tier." I look out my room window into the pod, and to my horrified eyes I see a small band of officers heading in my direction. I said to myself, "now you must walk this out." I was informed by the band leader (actually the Lt.) that I was going to the Hole for destruction of state property above $50. I was whisked away to property, broken down, and had to mail out anything fun that I had (art supplies), and then off we went to segregation for the next four days. (In 20 years I had never been to the Hole.) As I sat in my single cell in the Hole I had C/O & LT alike stop, look at me & shake their heads. In the back of my mind I'm thinking what exactly do they think I did that this type of response is being exhibited outside my door. After four days I am handcuffed, and escorted to the full classification committee (FCC), to meet with the wardens, case workers, & mental health. After explaining myself in detail, the decision is made by Head Case Worker Peterson to Warden Oliver to send me to the B.M.U.--the Behavioral Management Unit. Right before my departure from FCC Warden Oliver informs me that I am going away for a long time where there will be no more sticker removals. At that point before I can even reply, I'm jolted out of my chair by my bodyguard--I mean by the officer that escorted me there, and back down the hallway in my bright orange outfit, I'm put back in my cell, and told to roll up, and head out to the B.M.U. On my arrival my fellow peers/inmates look at me, and say what are you doing here? I said "I told the truth about a state sticker being removed from a rusted out cabinet, and a little twist of details by chaplain Burse was put on it, and her I am." When I go to be sanctioned (11-23-19) I still told the truth about the rusted out cabinet sticker & I was advised that there was a possibility that the state would seek restitution--maybe. I asked the question, "what if they decide that the cabinet is worth $800.00." The Sgt. replyed with alot of vagueness that he did not really know what the price of a cabinet & if I was charged, he did not believe that it would be that much. At mail call on 11-26-19, I received a restitution form stating that I owe the state $570.98. So, let me get this straight. The Chaplain had decided to throw out the rusted out cabinet into the trash, and while moving it, seeing a sticker & pulling it, and then telling the truth, and saying there was a sticker, I am now purchasing a new item for them, in place of the one they were throwing out, and they will still probably get a new one from the state.
