Hello Friends, Family, Potential Donors I may not know,

My name is Sean Verdu. I am a Theatre Professor and Artist from Colorado Springs. I am also a partner, a father, a son, a brother, a friend, and a human being who needs assistance. I am reaching out for support from those that may be able to lend me a helping hand in a major time of need. This is a tough story to share, and honestly, I was too ashamed originally to ask for help. But with the guidance, love, and support of my friends and family, I gained the courage to share and reach out because, as humans, we all make mistakes and deserve a chance to fight. Here is the story...

On August 8, 2025, I was pulled over by a State Patrol Officer. After the initial discussion and accusation, he further accused me of driving drunk. He used intimidation and coercion tactics to try to get me to perform sobriety field tests. I performed one, the eye test. As he tried to have me perform more related to body function and balance, I denied performing those. I declined to perform them because earlier that day I was diagnosed with Degenerative Disc Disease in my neck and lumbar spine, as well as bulging discs in both of those locations. For multiple months, I was seizing up and unable to move, so I felt strongly those tests would be inaccurate about my ability to perform the tests fairly. With each denial of a test, the officer got more and more aggravated and began to threaten license suspension immediately if I failed to cooperate. He then offered me a breath test or blood test. I decided on the blood test. He immediately placed me under arrest and handcuffed me, chest bumping my back multiple times. I let him know that my extremities (both hands and both feet) go numb easily with this newfound disease I am living with. Sure enough, as I was placed in the officer's truck, my extremities went numb, and he ignored me and my kind pleas for assistance. After giving blood, the officer took me to a detox facility where I spent 7 hours waiting to be released to get back to my family and my life. I was ticketed and given a summons date of October 6.

Since the events of that evening, I have met with several lawyers and stated my case. Each one of them has heard me out and said I have a good shot at trying to beat this case due to intimidation, coercion, and potentially excessive force (as I was not fighting in any way with the officer). One additional thing is that this would be my second offense (I had a DWAI in 2009). If you know anything about Colorado law, a second offense comes with mandatory jail time (ten days). Here is where you all come in...

The justice system in America is incredibly tough to beat; you almost certainly need a lawyer to defend you and help navigate the system so you can be treated fairly. Lawyers that I have talked with average somewhere between $5,500 - $10,000. As an adjunct professor and working theatre artist, I just don't make enough to cover that. Thankfully, most lawyers take payment plans. The plans require a down payment of $1,500. I am asking for assistance to help me get just a portion of the down payment so I can begin a payment plan and get the much-needed assistance that I require to fight for my rights as a human being. (UPDATE: The amazing generosity of donors helped me crush this original goal. So I have given a little boost to the goal to help cover the lawyer fees. I really appreciate all your kindness!)

Thank you for taking the time to read this and consider lending me a hand. I know in these times that money can be tight for all, so anything helps (even just kind words or thoughts sent my way).