Introduction

By Clinton Lee Young, January 2009

At the time of writing this, I am 26 years of age. For the last 7 years I have been held at the Polunsky Unit, home to the notorious Texas death row. 

The case that resulted in my getting sent to death row occurred in late November 2001. I was 18 years and 4 months old at the time. Of the four people involved, I alone was sent to death row. It was only through a series of half truths, boldly told lies, and myths fabricated by the state prosecutors and politicians who depend on a fearful populous to gain votes.  

My own ignorance, low socio-economic status and refusal to cooperate with police didn’t help matter any. I had faith in the justice system to a degree. I had no idea how far the prosecutors would really go to get a death sentence against me. 

In Midland, no prosecutor was able to secure a death sentence in twenty-years. The head prosecutor in my case, whom has since retired, was un-able to secure another death sentence after me.  

The state of Texas has a long running history for use of the death penalty. Texas is well known for being “tough on crime.” Sadly this outdated policy of convict at any cost, has resulted in many innocent people spending countless years in prison. Dallas, Texas alone has had over twenty men, freed from prison after being later found innocent. This “tough on crime,” culture in Texas has influenced state prosecutors to strive for the harshest sentences. What is harsher then death? 

There was actually a reward given to prosecutors who could secure a sentence of death. It was called “the silver needle society” award. It was a needle on a plaque, which indicated lethal injection. These state officials turned it into a type of game!  

Texas executes more people then the rest of the country combined. It leads the world in executions behind China, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Pakistan. Currently Europe does not have the death penalty. America stand alone in the western world in having the death penalty.  

This isn’t really about the death penalty, though. The matter of focus is Justice. 

The United States Constitution is the controlling document of the American Society. The Government is broken down into three branches: the judicial, the legislative and the executive branches.  This is so no one entity can be an oppressive element in American Society. These three branches form a system of checks and balances in the Government.  All branches have the right to act in accordance to the constitution. Many Americans fight very hard and spend millions to protect their second amendment. This is the portion of the constitution that grants an American citizen the right to bear arms. (to own a gun)  Many Americans seem to forget the other amendments. As an American you may not pick and choose the laws that you want to follow. You cannot complain about someone preventing your free speech and then reject a persons right to a fair trial. This country is governed by the rule of law, not the law of rule. The constitution is an all or nothing document. It is with this thought that S.A.I.L was created. Your views on the death penalty are meaningless in concern with the overall picture.  

My question isn’t whether you believe the death penalty should end. It is “Do you believe that every man or women should receive a fair trial and prevention from un-just prosecution?”  

The death penalty comes into play as the reality of my situation. The injustice in my case has fatal consequences! While I have made many mistakes in my life, I have NEVER killed ANYONE!  

The following information that is being provided to the reader is to show how un-fair my trial was. I had to contend with in-competent criminal investigators. I had to deal with police misconduct, prosecutors directly interfering with my lawyers ability to defend me, prosecutors lying to the courts, and having witnesses lie. Hidden rewards and deals given for false and misleading testimony. Attacks on my character to make me appear as a violent, heartless, manipulative killer.  

Some of the statements made by those that testified was truly jaw dropping and shocking, due to its falseness! You will see for yourself how witness’s change their stories in the middle of their testimony, how former juvenile prison guard’s lie openly against me. I am now able to prove these things.  

Yes I did have a juvenile record. You will read about this. I was sent to juvenile prison for theft of a firearm, burglary of a building, burglary of a habitation, car theft, indecency of a child exposure and assault with bodily injury. Each of these crimes are very serious. Though many are misleading in classification of the events. You will read in my probation officer’s testimony at how the owner of the car that was stolen did not even want to press charges against me. The theft of a firearm was the result of taking a gun, that belonged to my mother and step-father with intent to sell it. The listed crimes all took place when I was fourteen years old. It was a truly turbulent period in my life full of internal conflict and a chaotic relationship with my parents. I ran away from home numerous times. Even swimming across a lake that was almost a mile wide at one point. The stolen car was again another effort to run away. 

The crime that resulted in the most adversity in my life was indecency with a child by exposure. I was 14 years old and the alleged victim was 15.  He was older and bigger then me. Due to the fact that he was under the age of 17 by law, he was considered a child. A friend and I got into a fight over a broken necklace. I was wearing just boxer shorts and a t-shirt, as I had just gotten out of the shower.  In the course of the fight my penis slipped through the slit in the front of my boxers.  I was un-aware of this until a guy present made a comment. When he made the comment it resulted in everyone in the room looking.  Of course the guy I was fighting looked as well. When I fixed my shorts I made a vulgar comment to the guy that I was fighting , because of the immature comment and the exposure, it resulted in me being charged. There are very strict laws in Texas, naturally they are even worse for sex crimes. After this incident, it became the focus point for psychologist and justice officials.  In the state of Texas a juvenile from the age 14-17 can be charged as an adult for any felony offense. A person as young as 14 can receive life in prison in many states in America. This is also something America stands alone in.  When this incident happened I was told that I could receive 10 years in prison. I professed my innocence to the crime by means of INTENT. As there was no intent to act in a sexual manner. My lawyer told me that the prosecutor in the case would send me to juvenile prison for a minimum of six months and that once I turned 18 everything would be off of my record so that I could join the military, if I plead guilty.  

When I went to T.Y.C. I was faced with a vastly different reality! Had I known the truth I would not have accepted the agreement. I was 14 years old and scared that I would be sent to an adult prison for ten years. So doing 6 months and then not ever having to worry about anything once I turned 18, seemed too good to pass up, though I still reluctantly agreed to the terms. 

Upon arriving at T.Y.C. I was informed that I would have to serve at least one year. I could stay up to my 21^st birthday. The charge I was processed under was theft of a firearm. Once I was assigned a case worker she informed me that due to the charge of indecency with a child I would have to register as a sex offender, and I would have to admit to guilt of the offense before a treatment team, as well as complete a program.  I refused. I was told that I couldn’t go home until I did such, so I began to act up. I ended up spending two and a half years in juvenile prison. I did not go home until my Mom had informed me that she had spoken with a senator who was introducing a bill to alter the juvenile sex laws.  

I had a home to go to and a girlfriend waiting on me to come home. I had no reason to stay in prison! Though I would rather have stayed in prison then to be viewed as something I wasn’t! For two and a half years I done just that! When I agreed to the terms of the prosecutors to go to T.Y.C. to avoid a trial, I was told that when I got out I would not have to register as a sex offender. The officials at T.Y.C. stated otherwise. So I simply refused to go home, I refused to work the program scheduled and the sex offender registration was lifted. The prosecutor informed me that if I completed my juvenile parole successfully he would help me get enlisted into the military. I was two and half months short of achieving this goal when I was arrested on my current case. 

I was never convicted of these crimes, as everything was resolved in  juvenile court. They are no longer on my record due to my current age. This means that if I am cleared of these charges that resulted in me getting sent to death row, then I would have a clean record, I would then be able to accomplish any goal that I had a desire to achieve.  

There is more to the circumstances concerning my juvenile record. At the time when I was charged with bodily injury and indecency charge, I was confined to a state mental hospital health facility. I was placed in this facility as a last ditch effort to avoid being sent to juvenile prison.  

I had severe ADHD and was on and had been on medication. While at the facility the lead psychologist had placed me on adderral. My behavior became worst. She increased the dosage, and I got worse. She then switched me to dexedrine, I began a rapid spiral out of control. I had to meet with the doctor and therapist each week. At one point, when they first put me on the Dexedrine, I was sitting before them, crying, proclaiming that I didn’t know what was wrong with me, that I didn’t act like this at home. They called me a liar and said I was trying to manipulate them. They increased my dosage of medication. After this I was in a series of fights and even had to be restrained and sedated. The assault and indecency charges took place which resulted in my removal from the facility.  

I stopped taking the medication and I returned and began to feel normal again, just hyper.  

5 years ago, the Federal Drug Administration that governs medications and pharmacutical items, issued a statement. Dexedrine now has a warning label indicating that it “may cause psychotic behavior.” I encourage everyone to look it up, the story was in the “USA Today.” It was 5 years ago, so it may be difficult to find. In the future I will have the standards posted on this site.  

While in T.Y.C. a psychologist there decided to conduct a test on me without my knowledge. He placed me on a high dosage of ritalin and monitored my reaction. I had three fights in one week! He realized that I was of a small minority of kids with ADHD that was an anti-stimulant. Stimulant medication made me aggressive and increased my impulsivity. Ritalin is a stimulant. Dexidrine is a far stronger stimulant than ritalin. The doctor then placed me on clonidine, depakote and a small dosage of ritalin. The other two drugs would counter-act the side effects of the ritalin. Everyone described it as a miracle cocktail of medication for me. Which several T.Y.C. guards that testified on my behalf make clear in their testimony that I have included in here.  

As a kid, instead of trying different behavioral modification therapy tactics, doctors went after the “quick fix.” Medication! Due to: no testing, or observations being done in a controlled setting, the doctors were un-able to know that medication was the worst thing for me. 

The prosecutors try to paint a violent and dangerous image of me. They need this image to justify my death. Though once everything is slowly broken down, the truth starts to shine through.  

The same doctors that forced me to take these mind altering medications, blamed me for every aspect of my behavior! When in reality it was their very own medications that was at fault for my outbursts and instability.  

Just as alcohol makes some people “happy drunks,” it makes some people “violent drunks.” Medication has the same impact. Each person is wired differently. Many of these doctors that cram pills down our throats, seemingly fail to take this into consideration.

I wanted to take the time to explain the different elements of my juvenile record, as many see or read certain things and jump to conclusions. I as well want to expose how the prosecution has repeatedly told lies to the appeal courts to make them think I committed crimes that I didn’t even commit, as well as misrepresent the crimes from my past. 

You will read on this site, about how a gunshot victim was put on the witness stand to lie against me. Though after being questioned by my lawyers, he told the truth, that I didn’t shoot him and didn’t even have a gun! You will see with your own two eyes all the lies. In some of the records contained on this site, you will read how I was in special education classes.  

All it takes is someone to read one of my blogs to be aware that I am in no way retarded or even un-educated.  I was placed in a special education class so that I could be in a small controlled setting to help me to be able to focus on my school material. As in a room full of people, I would be easily distracted and tend to act like a class clown.  

You will also read letters that I sent to the court and lawyers trying to get specific tests conducted that would help to prove that I didn’t commit any murders. You will see how I fought so hard on my appeals but was repeatedly shorted due to the in-effective and incompetent appeal attorney’s.  You will also see how an investigator that later worked on my appeal was smoking crack/cocaine with witnesses and truly was un-stable! She single handedly destroyed numerous death row inmate’s appeals.  

Something else stands clear and true, everything I proclaimed years ago, has come true. I informed the courts and my lawyers that if they had done the ballistics properly it would show that I could NOT have committed the murders. When I was finally able to raise the funds to do this, the reports, which you will be able to read, clear me of the murders!! The expert that reviewed and issued the report is one of the best in the nation. He was for the most part of his professional career, a police officer.  

I need YOU the reader’s to help in fighting this injustice! I have been able to show through forensics that I did not commit the murders. Through investigative work, it was revealed that prosecutors in my trial rewarded my co-defendants with deals in exchange for their testimony against me. You will read how one co-defendant `that was charged with capital murder, was told that he would receive a sentence of 5 years in exchange for testimony against me. You will read how one co-defendant was never even arrested in this case. Also while free, while waiting to testify against me, he was arrested for aggravated sexual assault of a minor and trafficing marijuana, each time he was released, and he was never convicted of these crimes! 

Most importantly you will see how the prosecutors can manipulate a situation and suppress your ability to defend yourself and manipulate the jury with half-truths. You will see how easy it is for a prosecutor to destroy someone’s life. The belief is that a person is innocent until proven guilty. This is so far from the truth. You are guilty until you have enough money, or an honest attorney to defend you.  

Two things stand true, a rich man doesn’t go to death row, and a poor politician doesn’t get elected! My case doesn’t stand alone. There are many in the history of the death penalty whose cases are clear examples of in-justice.  

Take the now famous Cameron Todd Willingham case and hundreds more have been freed from death row. Juries were made to believe that they were violent manipulative people who needed to die. Society condemned them. It was only when they were able to secure DNA testing or get a good attorney to listen to them were  they were able to gain their freedom.  

Go to the website: www.innocenceproject.org, and also www.texasexonerees.org. Scan the media articles for the wrongfully convicted. See how America locks up more citizens then any other country in the world! See how Texas has the largest prison ‘system’ in the world, and the third largest prison population behind that of the federal prison system and California.  Look up how over seven-million Americans are in prison, jail or on probation or parole, right now! Then you will see how over ten-percent of Americans have been in prison or jail, at some point in their life. Then look up where America stands in comparison as far as education. You will see how American youth trail the modern world in education. Yet we lead the world in incarcerated individuals! The USA under-educates the youth and over-incarcerates! It was only when the Government could no longer afford to pay for all the prisons and jails that they decided to find other ways of dealing with people and crimes. Millions of Americans have been through prison and jail for small crimes such as: possession of marijuana-under 20 grams. 

American prisons are some of the most violent in the world. Prison and street gangs have exploded in the last two decades. It is the same politicians that slash education funding that scream the most outrage at criminals.

Texas trails the rest of the United States in spending on education and mental health services.  

Once you read my blogs and the material that has been provided on this site, you will see the level of injustice. I in no way received a fair trial. Therefore my death sentence is in NO WAY justified.  

I issue to all: a plea for help in saving an innocent life.

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