Patricia Spottedcrow Released On Parole

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Patricia Spottedcrow - the 27-year-old mom was released early Thursday after serving two years of a 12-year sentence for selling a small bag of marijuana to an undercover cop. An Oklahoma woman who was sentenced to 12 years in prison for selling a small bag of pot to an undercover cop was released early Thursday after serving two years. Patricia Spottedcrow, a mother of four from Kingfisher, north of Oklahoma City, captured national attention after her harsh punishment became of the subject of a Tulsa World investigative report last year. The 27-year-old was sentenced in October 2010 after she was busted for selling the officer $31 worth of marijuana. Her children were in the home at the time, leading to a charge of possession in the presence of a minor. Her mom, Delita Starr, was also there. She was given a 30-year suspended prison sentence, the World reported. Advocates for Spottedcrow’s case attacked Oklahoma’s strict prison sentences for first-time drug offenders and argued that the state’s status as the nation’s top jailer of women was destroying families and communities, the World reported. On Thursday, Spottedcrow said she was just happy to be back with her children, who are now 11, 6, 5 and 3. “I missed potty training my daughter,” Spottedcrow told the World. “I missed her talking. I missed school, my other daughter’s first day of school. I missed soccer games. I missed out on a lot. I missed Christmases and birthdays.” Touching video posted on the newspaper’s website showed the beaming mom hugging and kissing her children as they raced off the bus to see her. At one point, her 3-year-old daughter Ja'zalynn, asks if she will leave again. “No. I’m not going to leave you no more,” Spottedcrow says, clutching the little tyke’s hand. Spottedcrow was released from Hillside Community Corrections Center after Gov. Mary Fallin approved her early parole. Her attorney said she was focusing on appealing for post-conviction relief and getting Starr’s 30-year suspended sentence reduced, according to local reports. Spottedcrow said she was putting her troubled past behind her and planned to go back to school. “My old life (is) just over,” she told the World.
 Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/mom-released-early-prison-article-1.1210838#ixzz2E625e5tk

From KFOR.com: Patricia Spotted Crow: Mother given lengthy sentence for pot could get out early

Ali Meyer ReportingKFOR-TV

February 16, 2012

OKLAHOMA CITY -- There is a new legal twist in the case of a Kingfisher mother who is spending eight years in prison for selling $30 of marijuana. Patricia Spottedcrow's court case grabbed national media attention in the past year.

The headlines inspired a number of lawmakers to take a closer look at the way Oklahoma judges incarcerate women for nonviolent offenses.

Two years ago, a Kingfisher County Judge sentenced Spottedcrow to 12 years behind bars for selling a small amount marijuana.

Spottedcrow had no prior felony convictions.

Last year, another judge in Kingfisher County modified Spottedcrow's sentence, shaving off four years.

She is now serving an eight year sentence.

Spottedcrow's attorney Josh Welch says, "We learned yesterday that one of the pardon and parole board members has voted to bring her up for an early consideration and that's a big deal for her. She's excited, she's positive about the possibility of being reunited with her kids."

If the pardon and parole board grants parole, Spottedcrow will be released with the Governor's signature.

Welch is also pursuing an application for post-conviction relief because he believes Spottedcrow had inadequate counsel during her initial court case.

Spottedcrow has four children who are living with her mother in Kingfisher County while she serves her prison sentence.

Oklahoma taxpayers are footing the bill for her incarceration.

According to Department of Corrections, it costs more than $14,000 a year for Spottedcrow's minimum security incarceration.

Welch says, "Her case is an example and can help other women in other cases bring attention to the outrageous fundamentally wrong sentencing we have for nonviolent offenses in drug cases."

Patricia Spottedcrow is expected to appear before the pardon and parole board sometime in mid-April.

Copyright © 2012, KFOR-TV

Sentence Reduced to 8 Years for Patricia Spottedcrow by Jonathan Perri

Sentence Reduced to 8 Years for Patricia Spottedcrow
by Jonathan Perri · 2011-10-06 16:48:00 UTC
Topics:


Patricia Spottedcrow, the 26 year-old mother of four who was convicted of selling $31 of marijuana to a police informant, has had her 12 year prison sentence reduced to eight years with four years of probation.

While the reduction in her sentence shows understanding, it is not justice and does not go far enough. As Spottedcrow's attorney, Josh Welch puts it, she shouldn't be in jail at all:

"Nobody understands why this woman is serving this long of a sentence for this type of crime. Look at other states; you can commit this same crime and it's not illegal. That's insane. She sold $30 of marijuana for gas money and food money for her family. It's stupid. It's wrong. But you don't go to prison for eight or 12 years for that. You shouldn't go to prison period."

Spottedcrow was scheduled to have a sentence modification hearing today where Kingfisher County Associate District Judge Robert E. Davis. would hear directly from her how she has changed and is ready to return to her family. Instead of giving Ms. Spottedcrow the chance to prove herself, Davis canceled the hearing and handed down the heavy sentence of eight years. Eight years for her to be away from her children, husband, and mother. And it's eight years that Oklahoma taxpayers will be footing the bill to needlessly keep a non-violent drug offender behind bars.

In the video below, Patricia Spottedcrow states that there are women in prison with her who are convicted of manslaughter and doing less time than she is for a first time marijuana offense.

"I sleep next to this girl here. She's in on manslaughter. She did three years. She was here for a year and now she's gone. I look around at all the people around me and they are here on trafficking two and three times, busted and busted, three and four prison sentences. They don't have near as much time as I do."

More than 30,000 people have signed the petition in support of Patricia. And they're continuing to sign. If you haven't joined her campaign yet, do so here: http://www.change.org/petitions/hon-robert-e-davis-remove-10-year-prison-sentence-for-moms-first-time-marijuana-offense