A Georgia Veteran Needs Help!

[Joeve]

Background:
A friend, Eugenia Hanshaw, who volunteered tirelessly for all Democrats running for offices in 2004, has a daughter that is currently serving in the US Air Force. Her daughter, Amaya Hanshaw is a Senior Airmen (E-4) and will be honorably discharged from Goodfellow AFB, Texas, on July 24, 2005, after serving 4 years. Amaya is 22 years old and has a 2 year old son. Amanda is originally from Avondale Estates (DeKalb County) and graduated from Avondale High in 2001. Amaya has had no prior offenses and no criminal record. The father of her son is a recently discharged Navy serviceman named Chad.

The Situation:
On Feb. 19, 2004, Amaya purchased a gun from a pawn shop in San Angelo, Texas for basic protection. Sometime in June 2004, Chad (her son’s father) asked to borrow the gun because some guys had threatened him and he wanted to store the gun at his home. They lived in separate homes and Amaya was the sole provider for their child. Amaya made a terrible judgment call and agreed to let him store the gun at his home. The day after Chad completed his Navy duties and was discharged; he decided to rob a bank. Chad is 23 years old. Chad never made it out the bank before he was arrested by the police. Chad was convicted and is currently serving the first year of a nine year sentence. The FBI traced the gun back to Amaya and after completing a full report they decided that she used poor judgment and was not an accessory to the bank robbery. But, the government has decided to prosecute her on a technical violation.

The Charge:
The government is charging her with False Statement regarding Firearms records (violation of 18 U.S.C 924 (a) (1) (A)
They claim that because she checked “yes” on the form stating that she was the actual buyer at the time of purchase and the firearm was used to rob a bank then it is a Federal offense. They are contending that she purchased the gun for Chad; which she did not. Under the sentencing guidelines, for no prior offenses, no criminal record, the range is 6-12 months in Federal prison.

The Case:
Amaya started out by pleading not guilty. After she received a court appointed attorney, Randol Stout, he and the prosecutor, C.Richard Baker, forced/convinced her to plead guilty. They used different tactics, including telling her that if she switched from the court attorney then they would bring in new evidence, a videotape. One week before Chad’s discharge he asked Amaya to follow him around the base with a video camera so that he could keep the video as a memento. She videotaped him and this is the only evidence that they are using against her to plead guilty. With no family support, the threat of Federal prison, and an impassionate court appointed attorney, she changed her plea to “guilty”. Her arraignment for the “guilty” plea is on July 28, 2005 in Lubbock, Texas.

Legal support:
Amaya has no money to afford a criminal attorney and neither does her mother. Her mother, who lives in Georgia, is taking care of Amaya’s 2 year old son during the day and working as a cleaning lady in the evening. The case is being heard in Lubbock, Texas. Her court appointed attorney is Randol Stout, the prosecutor is C.Richard Baker, and the presiding judge is Sam R. Cummings. Amaya has received a character letter from her supervisor and will receive one from the Colonel at Goodfellow AFB. The military will not offer her an attorney because the crime is not a military matter.

What next?
The only thing that I can offer Amaya is my wide range of contacts. I do not know much about criminal cases nor the military. But, I do know that it is a shame that someone can go from serving their country honorably and in 4 days time can become a convicted felon because of one bad judgment decision. This young lady is only 22 years old and is sitting in Texas alone and in fear for her life and her son’s life. She needs someone down there that can yell “bullshit” to the court appointed attorney and prosecutor for trying to railroad her into something she is not guilty of. She has no one to yell. I ask for your support to help find a way to get this young lady cleared of these charges and/or to help her find the means to hire a criminal attorney that is in support of her welfare.

Amaya Hanshaw SrA 17 CS/SCBE
[e-mail] email her!
She can use advice, support letters, prayers, and everything else.

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[dave502d]

1. I hate this Country when they do shit like this.This is a sad story.n/t