Gail's defense fund.

Hi,

My name is Gail and I'm trying to raise money for my defense. On January 18, 2024, I was traveling with my brother from NM to OKC to have dinner with my sister and nephew’s family. Our eta was 4:30pm. However, things were about to swing in an opposite direction. We were pulled over in Texas for speeding. The highway patrolman told Bob he was just giving him a warning and not a ticket. There were two patrolmen and one asked for Bob to go sit in the patrol car while he processed the registration and license. The other patrolman questioned me while I sat in Bob’s car. Finally, he says, ‘mam, in the state of Texas the smell of marijuana is probable cause to search the car` `Busted! He asked if there was anything I wanted to tell him. So, I showed him my little bag with less than a gram in it. By the way I have my Missouri medical cannabis card. Texas does not care. After watching the 2 patrolmen search my brother's car, they found nothing more than 3 gummies and that tiny amount of flower. I am a proud user of cannabis. It has allowed me to live almost pain free from Fibromyalgia. After they finished searching, they let Bob go and arrested me for possession of marijuana. I was already hand-cuffed, and they put me in the patrol car and took me to Wheeler County correctional facility. At the jail a woman jailer strip searched me, took all my clothes and gave me the orange and white striped jumpsuit to wear. I was processed, finger-printed, blood sample given, and DNA tested! Imagine, it was surreal to say the least. I was put in a cell that had concrete walls and a floor. They gave me a plastic covered mattress that really wasn’t thick at all. I mainly slept as much as possible to make the time go faster. It seemed to all happen in slow motion. I was there overnight and was served dinner, then breakfast and lunch on Friday. I tried to eat but only had one bite of each meal. It was wretched food. I could not stomach any of it. I had been given a small styrofoam cup to drink the water that came out of the faucet next to the toilet. I had toilet paper, thank goodness. But no soap, warm water, or paper towels. The second day I was having diarrhea. They let me make one phone call instead of the 2 that they first said I could make. I guess I waited too long to ask to make a second call because according to the evening jailer I only have 4 hours to make the phone calls. At this point I tell the jailer that I don’t even know what the charges are against me. So he gladly picks up a paper and proceeds to tell me that I have a charge that is a misdemeanor and two charges that are felonies! What!? I had no clue what these charges meant or what exactly they were other than the possession of marijuana was a misdemeanor. I had to wait until Friday at 10am for the judge. The judge reads the charges, reads me my rights and sets bail, Total $25,500. Thanks to my brother and Rick for bonding me out. I was finally released at about 5pm Friday.

First felony was having a controlled substance in a correctional facility. My vape pen was in my purse and the arresting officer handed it over to the jailer. He had missed that in my purse and now they are charging me as if I brought contraband purposely into the place. Then the second charge is similar, only it was my brother that I’d asked for him to bring my meds in for me because I needed them for night and would need again in morning. Not knowing what meds I needed, he just found the prescription bottles and brought them in, to give to the jailer. Well, it was the wrong one. I had a Rx for hydrocodone from my car accident in Oct. 23 ‘. I hadn’t needed them in a while, but I brought them with me for a just in case scenario. Anyway, that was a felony. And I never did get my meds that night or the next day. It’s so hard to think about. I sure do know now what it feels like to be treated as a criminal! Other than consuming cannabis I am a valuable asset in my community and an upstanding citizen. I have no criminal history in my 59 years. I am devastated right now.

My sister, Linda, has helped me find an experienced criminal defense lawyer. We need $6500 to pay him to defend me. I never in my wildest dream or nightmare could have imagined this scenario being real for me. But here I am. I am truly grateful for the support I’ve received from both family and friends.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope you’ll find it in your heart to help me out. Any amount is greatly appreciated.