I have a friend who really needs help.

My friend Liking Johnson was recently released from prison after 18 years of a 30-year sentence. He was sentenced to 30 years for driving the car while his friends robbed a cell phone store. No one was hurt, but he received the maximum sentence because he had two prior "strikes," both for marijuana possession (which of course is no longer a crime in California). He was appointed a public defender, who did little to defend him or try to lessen the sentence.

He sold marijuana because, when he was 13 years old , his stepfather (who was his father for all intents and purposes) died of cancer and his mother became a drug addict, leaving him to somehow support the family, including his two younger siblings.

He was 23 years old when he went to prison and had a 2-year old daughter at the time.

Liking earned an early release from prison through "good behavior," including counseling other inmates and by participating in a program that allowed inmates to become fire fighters to combat the vastly increased wildfires in California in recent years. He fought over 50 fires while in prison, risking his life each time.

Liking learned his lesson in prison and is a changed man. He is looking to find a way to help disadvantaged youth stay out of prison and to continue counseling prisoners.

Since being released, Liking worked to have his record expunged and got a job as a caretaker for the elderly, including his grandmother.

Liking recently met a woman and had a son, King Solomon, who is now 6 months old. Liking is especially grateful for this second chance to be a father after missing out on watching his daughter grow up.

Now to the point:

Liking, who is struggling to make ends meet, was involved in a car accident, and his car is totaled. Without a car, it will be very difficult for him to work and take care of his family.

If anyone has a car they don't need and can donate, it would be a lifesaver for Liking. If not, please consider donating something to his GoFund me page, to which there is a link below. Any amounts in excess of the cost of the car will go to Liking and his family to help them get off their feet, which is very, very hard for former prisoners.

Thanks and God bless,

Rick