Freedom for Gavin
Donation protected
Gavin Trietsch is a 32-year-old man with autism. He lives in Parker County, Texas with his grandmother (Jayne) and his mom. He loves his family, animals, and eating sweets. He is also one of the nicest people I know (I’m his younger brother).
Gavin is facing prison time because he fell behind in paying legal fines in Johnson County, Texas. The fines are from drug-related charges. Gavin has been sober for almost 4 years now. He has a hearing on March 4, and must pay the full amount before then ($3,538.00). Gavin is a recovering addict. He was in treatment and has now been drug free for almost 4 years. He has been doing his required community service. He works two jobs at McAllister’s Deli and Dickey’s Arena. He has his own car. Gavin is very proud of his accomplishments. And rightly so, because national data show that only 1 in 10 people with autism are able to find employment.
Unfortunately, the courts do not care how hard Gavin has worked. They don’t care that he’s sober. They don’t care about the unique struggles he faces due to his differences. They only care that his fines are paid. The privately owned, for-profit prisons in Texas have a vested interest in fining and jailing people like my brother because the more people who are incarcerated, the more money they make.
Gavin’s safety will be at grave risk in prison. He is not a criminal. He is a gentle, loving person who made a mistake and is being trapped in suffering years after the fact by a draconian legal system. Texans, especially low-income people and people with disabilities who can not afford to pay for fines or legal aid, fall into this quicksand and never escape. Gavin is not the first, and he will not be the last. It is wrong and it is unjust, but it is the law.
Please help us get justice for Gavin! Please give whatever you are able to give before March 4! All of it will go to paying Gavin’s legal fines ($3,538.00) and the rest is for GoFundMe fees.
Gavin is facing prison time because he fell behind in paying legal fines in Johnson County, Texas. The fines are from drug-related charges. Gavin has been sober for almost 4 years now. He has a hearing on March 4, and must pay the full amount before then ($3,538.00). Gavin is a recovering addict. He was in treatment and has now been drug free for almost 4 years. He has been doing his required community service. He works two jobs at McAllister’s Deli and Dickey’s Arena. He has his own car. Gavin is very proud of his accomplishments. And rightly so, because national data show that only 1 in 10 people with autism are able to find employment.
Unfortunately, the courts do not care how hard Gavin has worked. They don’t care that he’s sober. They don’t care about the unique struggles he faces due to his differences. They only care that his fines are paid. The privately owned, for-profit prisons in Texas have a vested interest in fining and jailing people like my brother because the more people who are incarcerated, the more money they make.
Gavin’s safety will be at grave risk in prison. He is not a criminal. He is a gentle, loving person who made a mistake and is being trapped in suffering years after the fact by a draconian legal system. Texans, especially low-income people and people with disabilities who can not afford to pay for fines or legal aid, fall into this quicksand and never escape. Gavin is not the first, and he will not be the last. It is wrong and it is unjust, but it is the law.
Please help us get justice for Gavin! Please give whatever you are able to give before March 4! All of it will go to paying Gavin’s legal fines ($3,538.00) and the rest is for GoFundMe fees.
Organizer and beneficiary
Trevor Trietsch
Organizer
Little Rock, AR
Jayne Dawson
Beneficiary
