Due to the fact that Bill is restricted in how many letters that he can send each week, I am posting his latest letters to me here. As usual, the most entertaining bits about prison life are cut out. Sorry.
Bill White wrote on April 11:
Well, the good news is I made it to USP Canaan, Please send me my WSJ. LOL. Everything else was bad news, but it is in the past, and as Charlie says, “Now is the only thing that is real.;-)
The past two weeks were not treating me well. I was locked down and in solitary on the orders of (name)- the Munchkin. What he did was claim – falsely – that he was going to give me a “shot” – an incident report – for “unauthorized media contact.” The fact this is not a BOP policy violation made a difference – in the sense that he didn’t put it into writing – but not in keeping me out of the SHU. I had the hell kicked out of me until yesterday, now I am able to relax.
The low point was probably just after I wrote Wednesday. I went out to “rec” in the freezing rain. After soaking through my clothes, I lost all feeling in my left leg and most feeling in the other and almost fell over. It took about a day to recover. I spent yesterday “black-boxed”, causing both of my forearms to be bruised and swollen this morning. A “black box” is metal black box that goes over your handcuffs, and provides extra restraint of the arms and hands. They are only supposed to use it on dangerous and out of control inmates – but [name] wrote nonsense all over my paperwork to make sure I got one.
Really, the whole thing was ridiculous. Every other Oklahoma SHU bed was labelled “SMU” – Special Management Unit, like ADX, but it only lasts three years – “ADX”, “DIST BEH” – disruptive behavior, “DISTGRP” -disruptive group, or had Nortena or Texas gang affiliations – neither of which walk in Oklahoma City. So, they have hyper-violent dudes going into administrative programs on this unit – and me, low security, general population. Even the SHU Lieutenant kept coming by and saying “I didn’t want you here, but I don’t have a choice.” Now, they may have been patronizing me – but I don’t think so because it wasn’t like I was wasting time begging to leave.
Anyways, the SHU was wearing on me. I was hungry, cold, and my sleep schedule was falling off – but I’m out now and doing okay. 😀 And, no shot was written, so the whole thing is behind me.
[Bill talks about research for his next book here.More on this, later.]
Loretto, at least, will not interfere with my writing, and, with some luck, I will have at least a few weeks to sit down and write while my legal issues continue to unfold. [Comment about Roanoke case deleted.]
I was completely isolated from the news, but I am sitting here looking at the Boston bombings. … [Bill speculates the device was identical to the MLK Day Spokane bomb.] The target was clearly “Americans” and not “the government,” causing me to suspect it is not domestic. [Musings on jihad deleted here.]
… Please share my latest prison and research news with everyone … [Personal remarks deleted.]
Sincerely,
Bill
Bill White wrote on April 20:
Well, it’s been two months of straight disappointment, and, now the BOP is keeping me under wraps in holdover status at USP Canaan. It is much better than the SHU, though, and I keep looking up. I’ve determined that I may be able to get myself in a camp this summer, which will ease contact with my daughter, and I am still working on sentence reduction – there are other motions and appeals left to file. So, some things are looking up – if only because I am at the bottom of a hole. 😉
Please give my apologies to (name) for not writing. Really, give my apologies to everyone – I can only write three letters a week.
[Family and money stuff deleted here.]
Please write! And please ask people to write! I need more contact with the real world. Food here is adequate, I can exercise, and I have few complaints, but not being able to interact with real people is the biggest one.
Oh, and I have not received the Wall Street Journal. What is its status? There is little news here, and frankly, I miss it. 😉
[Bill speculates on where he is going next here.] If I am still headed to Loretto, it will likely be on the May 3rd bus…
As to what’s happening in Roanoke…I was wrong about the 70 days [for a speedy trial] – but, the lack of detainer or Writ on file seems to indicate they are in violation [of the Speedy Trial Act.]…
[Bill explains his security status here. His is rated at 14 now and he needs to stay out of trouble and get it down to 11 to be able to get into a camp.] Even if things in Roanoke go badly, he worst that will do is keep me in a low until 25 % of my sentence is complete, at which time I’d again become eligible.
Canaan is mostly locked down. A guard was killed here last month, and so holdover now locks down at 3:30 PM until 6 AM the next day… But I don’t mind terribly. It could be much worse.
[Comments about prison people deleted here.]
The only news has been the Boston bombings. I have no idea what else happened in the world. LOL… Really I wish I could just work on my book as it gives me something to do which the BOP views as completely harmless…
Also, in my boredom, I have been designing computer software…
I do miss everyone…and hope to hear something…
Sincerely,
Bill