From Schoolhouse to Jailhouse
Christopher Sholly
A Case Study
[Home] [Diary of Christopher Sholly] [Discussion Group]
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Reporter: Dawn Chase |
Compiled July 2005 by: Justice4Kids.org |
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Winter 2001 to Summer 2005 – Dawn writes about her son Christopher
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2005 Jackson County Jail, 17 years old, awaiting transfer to Adult Prison | ||||||||||||||
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Florida Statutes 985.417 Transfer of children from the DOC to the DJJ
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My Son's name is Christopher Allen Sholly. Birthdate is April 23, 1988. He was arrested on charges of battery for fighting in school. I was told he had a disorder know as Bi-Polar which as of now, he has been completely off meds for over a year.
Excerpt of Christopher Sholly Diary #1, provided by mother Dawn Chase
I was sent to Greenville Hills Academy. I was sent there for violating probation, and I violated by trying to commit suicide, I am 13 years old at this time. I regret trying to do this now. When I got to Greenville Hills Academy, I was beat up by the Staff that worked at the cottage, Merit Cottage. I have no idea why the staff beat me up. I was scared and confused. I did the only thing I could think of, I kept my mouth shut and stayed to myself. Well, the next morning I got up and seen some bad things. I seen one boy, by the name of Tylor Clarry, being hit by the staff. I seen other youths being abused also. All throughout the day the staff messed with me, called me a white piece of sh**, and poked names and cussing at me. After about 4 days on, another boy kept trying me, so we fought. After the fight, the staff grabbed me and dragged me into a back room, no camera's there. It must have been a weight room cause there were weights in it. The two staff threw me up against the wall and got in my face and said, "why the f*** did you fight, this is my house and I don't take no sh**!. "They both were yelling at me and spit was flying into my face. I was not worried about the yelling, I was worried about them beating me up. After they were done yelling at me, they threw me on the floor and jumped on my back and held me down. They grabbed my arms, legs, and hands, and restrained me. They bent my legs over my back, all the way until the tips of my feet touched the back of my head. One staff was pulling my legs, the other pulling on my head. The position they put me in was widely called "the lawn mower". It hurt so bad, I thought I was going to pass out. After they were done, the staff punched me and kicked me a few times each. All the while, I was laying on the ground crying and pleading them to stop. But they wouldn't stop. All thoughout my days at Greenville Hills Academy, I went through hell. This that I am going to write below are the things that the staff used to do to me and others there:
The Staff used to beat us up everyday. They used to only let us have around a minute of two to eat our food. They used to make us wait a very long time to use the rest room,. If we used the bathroom on ourselves, the staff would make us wash our clothes out in a five gallon bucket and no gloves with cold water. Most of the kids there used the bathroom on theirselves, because the staff would make us hold it for so long. I, came close to using a number 2 on myself at school. The staff wouldn't let me go to the bathroom. I begged her for like ten minutes and she finally let me go to the bathroom. The staff used to mentally abuse us as well. They would call us names, and make fun of us. They used to tell us that we youths would never be anything in life.
Winter 2001 to Summer 2005 – Dawn writes about her son Christopher . . .
2001-2002 Escambia County JDC and Okaloosa JDC
This is one of the first many incidents of Abuse within DJJ.
He was being held in the Escambia County JDC, Pensacola, Florida.
On or about December 8th, 2001, my son became involved in an altercation with another boy at the center, causing Officer Harrison to intervene, however, Officer Harrison used extreme force towards my son, using a closed fist he proceeded to punch out my son in the face with approximately 4-5 blows to his face, leaving numerous contusions on my sons face. He also choked my son leaving fingermarks around his neck, along with numerous bruised on my sons body. My son visited his Doctor shortly after the incidents occurred and the marks and injuries were noted and reported by Doctor Lemus of Lakeview Center in Pensacola Florida, as well as I reported to DCF.
My son told his Doctor and I, "the only thing I remember is my face hit the floor, and I was dragged by my ankles, and slung into a cell half naked." He also stated that "the room was spinning."
My son obtained contusions on both of his shoulders, arms and nose. Which now there is evidence of a past broken nose since being in custody. I had eyewitnesses to the beating and have heard Guards myself calling the children obscene names, and making fun of them and cursing at them.
I personally confronted the guard that beat my son up and he became very quiet, and denied it. I told him that the doctor has reported the abuse, and I had eye witnesses to it.
He became very disturbed and within 30 minutes, my son was transferred to the Okaloosa Detention Center, in Crestview Florida. When I asked the Assistant Superintendent for a copy of the incident report concerning my son, he became very ugly with me and told me to get it from my attorney.
He also stated that he was unaware of the beating incident, he refused to acknowledge any of it. His name in Antoine Williams.
Again, this is only the first of numerous abusive acts made on my young son.
I am writing down what occurred at the first program my son entered in March 4th 2002..
During these times there he made numerous allegations to me of abuse, and I made numerous calls to DCF yet nothing was done. Below is from my Diary, from Oct 6th 2002.
My Son told me numerous times how Ms. Hopkins would torment him and tell him he was a white bastard, and will never amount to anything cause he can't read.
Mr. Choice made repeated racial slurs at my son because he was white.
I received a phone call from my Son Christopher Sholly, and his Counselor Denise Graham.
My Son began by telling me a horrific story of a Guard so called restraining him and at the same time delivering blows to his back and head with a closed fist, and choking him, leaving marks around his neck and bruises on his arms and various parts of his body.
I was able to speak to his counselor, Denise Graham, and she then confirmed my question of whether or not there were bruises and marks about his neck and body. Her answer to me was "yes he has marks all over him". Ms. Graham is a mental health counselor.
I immediately called and reported the abuse to the Abuse Hotline for DCF. An investigator was sent out. My Son was told that his story was typical, and hard to believe, because so many kids have falsely accused the staff in these facilities, just to get back at them. The abuse was evident with the marks and bruises on my Son! This was on Oct 7th 2002. On Oct 8th 2002, I made a phone call to my Son to see how he was doing. He explained to me that He was taken into Ms. Thompsons Office who is the Assistant Director, along with the Guard that abused him, Rodney Baynard, that "if I have to lay my hands on you one more time, I'm going to beat you to a pulp!"
Christopher was only about 45 days of release of this program. I again called DCF because of the threat, and also contacted the Regional Director for NorthWest FL, John Tallon's office about this incident, and the threat. Mr. Tallon's assistant assured me that Mr. Tallon would be making a surprise visit to Greenville Hills Academy to check this story out and talk with my son.
He did indeed do this. However, after the visit from Mr. Tallon, my son Christopher was
told that "if he didn't straighten up and KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT, he would be sent off to another program and have to start all over from day one of his sentencing with no serve time given."
This is blackmail and retaliation. He only had approx 45 days left of completing the program there.
He was told if he was transferred, he would have to start a whole new program over!!
On or about November 17th, a month after Rodney Baynard/staff member threatened my son to beat him to a pulp if he had to lay his hands on him one more time. Mr. Baynard beat and broke my sons upper left humerous near the growth plate. This incident happened in the morning. I did not receive a call from Denise Graham till about 8:00 pm that night.
Her words were.. "Are you sitting down"... I told her I am now.. why?
She said "They broke his arm!!" It has been my understanding that Ms. Graham is no longer working at the facility now.
I called Vicki Burnett, Assistant Regional Director for Northwest Florida and told her what had happened. I have spoken to her previously of the abuse in Greenville Hills, only to be ignored, and now this. I happened to do a background check with Madison County Sherrifs Department about Rodney Baynard. I was informed by the officer there, that Mr. Rodney Baynard has a previous arrest record of Aggravated Assault, and also driving a car with the wrong tags.
I bought this to the attention of Ms. Burnett who then told me, well if this is true, he should not be working for DJJ.* "He must have slipped through the cracks." She asked.. "what can we do to make this better" I told her, "get him OUT OF THERE NOW!" He was finally transferred to OYDC on Nov 20th 2002.
An investigation was done by Jeff Kelley from the Inspector Generals Office.. and I still to this date have not heard whether or not these people are still on staff there.. or whether Rodney Baynard was charged with battery towards my son. I was told by Beverly Carini JPO here in Milton Florida...
"You didn't hear this from me, but your son's arm was not the first kid that this man has done this too."
Funny, I called the IG's office, and was told Jeff Kelly was no longer in that department as I wanted to get a copy of the investigation. I still don't have it, but I do have the case number. OIG Case# 2002-05475.*
DJJ OIG Case # 2002-05475 was UNSUBSTANTIATED that Rodney Baynard used excessive force causing an injury to the growth plate of left arm.
DJJ OIG Case # 2003-02952 was SUBSTANTIATED that the Rodney Baynard submitted a fraudulent Application for Employment; he was terminated
2002-2003 Okaloosa Half Way House
My son was transferred from Greenville Hills Academy due to my request after guard Rodney Baynard broke his arm.
He arrived at Okaloosa Half Way house on November 20th, 2002. He was doing well in the program as long as Faye Finnigan was the administrator there. In fact he overheard Mr. Robinson say that he can't wait for Faye Finnigan to leave as she babies these kids.. then there will be some real discipline done. NO problems there till Faye Finnigan transferred to the Tampa area. Then all hell started breaking loose.
My son was told by Mr. Winston that "his sister and mother look good, and he was going to fuck them both". My Son witnessed another youth by the name of Keith Johnson being picked up over Mr. Robinson's head and literally slammed to the floor, twice. My son was then instructed to clean up the blood off of the floor with out the use of any gloves! This Drama all started after Faye Finnigan left, and Marvin Bliss started. My son stated that the staff did not act in this manner as long as she was there. On April 24th 2003, my son and another child were playing or goofing off in the closet, and Mr. Winston saw them, and went over and yanked my son by the arm with such force, that my son bounced off of him. Mr. Winston then proceeded to try and slam my son face first into the concrete floor, and my son grabbed his shirt to steady himself and to stop from getting injured. Law Enforcement was called in and Chris had another charge on him, but he was only trying to keep from falling. He plead not guilty to this. on May 21st.
My son has been repeatedly beaten and abused severely, had his arm broke, and nose. He has constant nightmares. On May 4th, 2003, I visited the program, and confronted the supervisor on duty for the evening shift, and told them, I now knew what was going on in there since Faye Finnigan left. Of course they all said that all of the boys were lying.. However I spoke with some of the parents of the kids that have been there, and they all corroborate the same types of abuse.
I told Marvin Bliss I was going to report all of this, and he was not going to get away with it. He said go ahead, and I'll have your son transferred and he will have to start a whole new program.
2003-2004 Jackson Juvenile Offenders Program
Again, my son has been transferred to Jackson Juvenile Offenders Program, and now had to start all over again!!
When my son went to Jackson Juvenile, he said that they treated him like a human being there. They were courteous and kind to him. He learned to read and write there, and he felt like he was worth something. I want to Thank Mr. Odom, Mr Warren Reeves, and Col Singletary for the kindness and care. I did not have any problems at Jackson Juvenile Program with Chris. He did well in that program but now transferred out of there to make room for a couple boys that were flight risk's from Dozier.
Now my son is in Dozier!! But now they are giving him time served..... now that is another stinkin story!!
Here we are at Dozier!... my son Christopher Sholly has now been in custody for 35 months!
He transferred there a couple months ago do to the fact that Dozier had a few in custody that were flight risks, so they switched out Christopher from Jackson Juvenile Offenders, to Dozier.
I was told it was not because he was doing worse. They needed the room for the other boys.
Let me see, where do I begin.. Chris initially liked Dozier until just a week or so ago..
He was in class, and something came up in the classroom. The teacher ordered him out of the classroom and Mr. Winston escorted Chris out, then began to take him down.. he accused Chris or the program accused Chris of hitting Mr. Winston.. Chris is due to come home Jan 17th 2005!
Chris swears up and down he did not hit Mr. Winston, and even Mr. Winston said he didn't even know for sure that, that is what happened. Mr. Winston wears glasses, and his glasses may have bumped into Chris's shoulder. Chris said he does not even know why he was being restrained as he was not doing anything. Chris is not wanting to jeopardize his release date. He obtained bruises and scars from being thrown on the concrete ground. Chris notified DCF himself on this.
They are doing an investigation, and they took pictures, I also saw the bruises on his side, and right upper back of his shoulder. This take down was more force then necessary, and there was no reason for it, as Chris said he was doing as he was told, and no threat to anyone. Every time he gets close to release, he has been set up, or moved to start all over.
Now he has to go to court over all of this again. Funny, he had no problems over at Jackson, at least things were better there.
I contacted Dozier, and asked to speak to the supervisor on duty, he gave me his name of Mr. Rolf?? or Ralf??? When I asked for him to spell it, he hollered back at me, "I don't know how to spell", then hung up on me. I warned them all they had better not put a hand on my son.
I've repeatedly called there to speak to Mr. Leeks, the administrator there, and he has neglected to return my calls.
My son told me that he was offered by another offender there that this offender can get him anything.. pills, pot, lighters while there for a trade for some "cream puffs" The offender stated that he can get these things from a staff member.
My Son showed me some concern for another boy there on Dec 26th I visited. My son told me, that a small in stature boy name Uriah Cummings, a foster boy, was being beat up by other offenders constantly, and the staff allow it, along with the staff in R&O cottage doing it as well.
My son witnessed J.C White kick Uriah Cummings in the buttocks with his foot on Dec 26th, 2004.
I then called DCF for the boy. DCF went out to investigate on Dec 27th. On Dec 29th my son called me and told me the J.C White confronted him and asked him if he ratted, and did his mother call DCF on them. I am very afraid of repercussions on my son, for me calling DCF on this abuse to Uriah Cummings, who in fact has Cerebral Palsy as well. J.C White told my son that they traced my call to DCF, and tapped in on my conversation with my son as well.
I called DCC on all of this, I spoke with Cameo, case number 2004 09 062 on Dec 29, 2004.
My son is about to give up... he has been locked up for 34 stinkin months of garbage and corruption in this system. When will DJJ listen to the kids and the parents??? Does another child have to die? I pray its not MY SON!! Please, Please get rid of the scum in these Facilities!
I am in fear for my son's life! He is in fear of getting beaten up again. He has been abused enough in these places. When is DJJ going to wake up and stop hiring people with past criminal history, and no education?? We need a definite reform to this madness.. these are kids here that they are dealing with, not monsters... people would get worse for treating an animal like this, let alone a child. The whole thing is a disgusting.
Excerpt of Christopher Sholly Diary #2, provided by mother Dawn Chase:
2005- Jackson County Jail, 17 years old, awaiting transfer to Adult Prison
I was transferred to Aurthur G Dozier because there was two or three boys over at Dozier that were flight risks, and they needed to be put in a more secure facility, so I was transferred with ALL MY CREDITS EARNED THIS TIME, and only had till January of 2005 till I was to come home!!! Of course now you all know that NEVER happened. I started seeing abuse and called my Mother to let her know what this place was doing, and she called in all the abuse. Pretty soon I had staff on my back and constantly harassing and provoking me. I was falsely accused of hitting Mr. Wilson, and sent to Adult courts.
I want to get on with MY life, I want to finish High School, and I want to go to college to be a LAWYER!!! WHY?????????? WHY??????? Can't they let me just go home?????
I was told by my public defender that there was nothing he could do to defend me!!!
My mother had more then enough evidence proving that all this is in retaliation for reporting abuse. I just turned 17 on April 23, I've never been able to play sports in high school, never been to a dance, have not seen my home in almost 4 years, and now I am sitting in Jackson County Correctional Center Adult Jail for something I did not do!!! I've been beaten physically so much in my time in custody by total strangers, and very big men, then I have ever endured. I can't take anymore of this, and sometimes feel like I just want to do my self in!! This is NO way for anyone to live.
I got into an argument with some adult and got in a fight with him in the same cell block, crazy man. Now I'm sitting in Confinement till Aug 2!!! Please someone HELP ME!! MY mom now can't even help me cause they sentenced me as an Adult. I'm not an adult, I'm just a kid, I want to be home with my family. I'M SO SICK OF ALL OF THIS!!!
HELP ME!!! HELP ME!!! PLEASE GOD HELP ME!!!!!!!
07/20/05 DOC Lake
Butler
Christopher Sholly, Age 17, was prosecuted as an ADULT for Battery on Detention
Facility Staff. He is in the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections.
He arrived at Lake Butler for processing on July 20, 2005. He awaits transfer to
a prison. He will still be a child on the date that he is scheduled to be
released from adult prison. His current release date is December 30, 2005.
DJJ OIG Case No. 2003-02952 (Boys’ Low Risk Residential Program)
A parent alleged that a former DJJ Investigator failed to conduct a thorough investigation of an incident that involved a staff breaking her son’s arm during a physical restraint. The parent alleged that the Investigator did not know that the staff had a criminal history. The parent was concerned that the staff was still employed at the program even though he had a felony conviction. The Investigation revealed that the Background Screening Unit (BSU) made an error by giving a favorable rating to the staff member during a Preliminary Background Screening. The error was amended when the staff member was rated as disqualified and the facility removed him from working with youth. Documents presented to the BSU required the changing of the disqualified rating to a non-disqualified rating. At that point, the BSU had no further responsibility to follow up on the employment status of the staff member. This was the facility’s responsibility. It was substantiated that the Human Resource Department at the facility did not comply with the Inspector General’s Statewide Procedure on Background Screening. They did not check the staff member’s Application for Employment for truthfulness, as was required. If this had been done, management would have realized the staff falsified his application by answering no to all of the questions concerning a criminal history. It was substantiated that the staff submitted a fraudulent Application for Employment stating that he never pled guilty and/or had an adjudication of guilt withheld to a crime that was a first-degree misdemeanor violation. Management terminated the employee.
Florida Statutes 985.417
Transfer of children from the Department of Corrections to the Department of
Juvenile Justice.
(1) When any child under the age of 18 years is sentenced by any court of competent jurisdiction to the Department of Corrections, the Secretary of Juvenile Justice may transfer such child to the department for the remainder of the sentence, or until his or her 21st birthday, whichever results in the shorter term. If, upon such person's attaining his or her 21st birthday, the sentence has not terminated, he or she shall be transferred to the Department of Corrections for placement in a youthful offender program, transferred to the supervision of the department, or be given any other transfer that may lawfully be made.
To read the complete statutes 985.417, click here.
But not this time... 07/20/05 DJJ to Dawn Chase: ...Corrections does not intend to refer him to Juvenile Justice... p.s.: I hope you are recovering from the damage done by Dennis.
~Brian D. Berkowitz, Chief Assistant General Counsel, Department of Juvenile JusticeTo read the complete e-mail from Berkowitz, click here.
| Dawn Chase 850-983-6777 |
| Christopher Sholly DC# 0-127087 North Florida Reception Center P.O. Box 628 I-2207 Lower Lake Butler, FL 32054-0628 |
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DJJ Secretary Anthony Schembri 850-413-7313 |
07/30/05 I feel so betrayed...
My
voice has not been heard by DJJ [Florida Department of Juvenile Justice]. Mr. Schembri did not
exercise his full power on saving my son from an adult system. I was told it is
VERY rare that kids above age 16 ever get transferred to a DJJ facility after
they have been placed in DOC custody. WHY THEN, even have this Florida Statute? Makes no sense. I was told that Christopher will be sent to a
facility for youthful offenders. This state has failed my son, and many other
children, and something needs to be done about it.
Here is the link to my boy, Christopher Sholly. He looks so scared and confused in this picture. He is breaking out all over!!
I'm in tears right now, as I found his information. I just am so lost and feel so betrayed by my own State and this department [DJJ].
"I feel so betrayed" is excerpted from two messages received from Dawn Chase 850-983-6777 on July 30, 2005. To read the complete text, click Diary of Christopher Sholly.-J4K