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from Bella Saturday, December 03, 2005 - 18:50 (Agree/Disagree?) Charles Louis Allen has allowed us to publicize his current mailing address as well as some pictures. Please see http://www.lamatteryresource.org/ for details. Also, Charles has requested that any SGA's that recognize him or who may have lived with him in the past, to please communicate with him if you so desire. Thank you. (reply to this comment)

From ? Saturday, December 03, 2005, 22:40 (Agree/Disagree?) what is Jim actually going to do for this guy? We have heard a lot of talk and not seen a lot of action!(reply to this comment)

From PopNFresh Sunday, December 04, 2005, 02:31 (Agree/Disagree?) It is my opinion that Jim is exploiting Charles' situation to add intrigue to his stupid story about his life in the family. It's pretty fucking pathetic if you ask me. By having updates posted to this site, he probably hopes to get some attention from the media that frequents this website. (reply to this comment)

from more information Saturday, September 24, 2005 - 03:40 (Agree/Disagree?) Trial starts in Gretna killing Suspect accused of ambush from attic The Times-Picayune/2004-07-15 By Paul Purpura Testimony began Wednesday in the trial of a Madisonville man accused of shooting a longtime acquaintance in the victim's Gretna home last year. Charles Allen, 25, faces spending the rest of his life in prison if a Jefferson Parish jury convicts him of second-degree murder in the death of Jario Pinzon, 48, a native of Columbia who was shot seven times in his home at 913 11th St. on Sept. 24. Judge Stephen Windhorst of the 24th Judicial District is presiding. The motive for the killing is in question. Prosecutor Donnie Rowan said Allen broke into Pinzon's home, hid in his attic and opened fire with two pistols through an opening in the ceiling as Pinzon passed underneath. Pinzon was hit seven times, and although he was able to call 911 and speak to the Gretna police officers at his home, he died several hours later at Charity Hospital never knowing who shot him, Rowan said. "This was, in fact, an incident that was planned," Rowan said in opening statements. Defense attorney Davidson Ehle told the jury that manslaughter is the more appropriate charge, suggesting that his client was driven to kill because Pinzon was manipulating events in his life. For one thing, Ehle said, Allen suspected that Pinzon had something to do with his wife leaving him. Pinzon taught Allen carpentry, and the two men partnered by installing cabinets and doors for Home Depot, until their partnership fell apart because Allen became better at the trade, Ehle said. "It builds to a point where Charles believes he was being threatened by Jario and a number of other people," Ehle said, not naming the others. Allen's and Pinzon's families had known each other for years, a relationship stemming from their membership in a religious cult known as The Family, Ehle said. Allen's father asked Pinzon to teach his son carpentry, which Pinzon did, the defense attorney said. Allen was considered a suspect when he voluntarily gave an officer his .45-caliber and 9 mm pistols, Gretna police Detective Dana Parker testified. Ballistics tests confirmed that those guns were used to kill Pinzon, Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office firearms expert Louise Walzer testified. Gretna police arrested Allen on Oct. 3, at Pinzon's funeral in St. Charles Parish. Testimony, which continues today, bogged down as attorneys argued about whether the jury would hear Allen's tape-recorded confession to Gretna police Detectives Eric Becnel and Richard Russ. With the jury out of the courtroom, Allen testified that Becnel disregarded his request for a lawyer. Allen also testified that the detectives said he would be charged with manslaughter if he gave a statement. Becnel denied making the offer, saying he thought first-degree murder was the appropriate charge. Becnel also testified that he offered to contact a lawyer for Allen. Windhorst then denied Ehle's request to keep the taped confession from the jury, saying he was "favorably impressed" with Becnel's testimony while Allen understood but voluntarily waived his right to remain silent. "He's clearly not an ignorant individual," Windhorst said of Allen. "But he did proceed to give a statement." (reply to this comment)

from Nancy Thursday, September 22, 2005 - 18:51 (Agree/Disagree?) If the object is to help the man with an appeal, then it might be more productive to find him an appellate lawyer, one who specializes in capital offenses or Habeas Corpus. There are lots of resources out there for indigents and foundations and projects with experienced attorneys who work pro bono. If you provided a bit more information on the basis for the appeal, then that might be helpful in knowing who could help. For instance, the Innocence Project founded by Barry Scheck, Peter Nuefield & Jim Dyer assists with appeals of actual innocence, as opposed to appeals on the basis of a defense such as diminished capacity, heat of passion, etc. If he was a first time offender and received a life sentence, then it sounds like he could have really used an experienced attorney. Since he has already been tried, then the appeal must be based on an error of law, not of fact, such as unproduced, mitigating evidence. If the object is to just provide him with books, then by all means carry on with Jim La Mattery. (reply to this comment)

From Disturbing Reality Friday, September 23, 2005, 09:33 (Agree/Disagree?) I appreciate your comment, and I see you know a thing or two about law. I know little or nothing about how to actually help my brother out with the whole appeal process, so I’ve pretty much kept out of that part of the whole thing. Since the very beginning of this ordeal, I’ve pretty much been in the dark about all the details and such. Mostly because, I found out about it through my parents (one is still a family member), and being one of the younger sisters, they chose to pretty much keep me out of the loop (for whatever secretive reasons). So, I’ve actually had no access to the details you mentioned above. The only thing I know about it, is what my brother writes me in letters, and since I am a younger sister, he may not actually tell me complete details. Anyway, I feel that LaMattery and my older siblings (my parents have not actually helped with the legal aspects of the case) have much more to do with that side of the issue and if you have any advice or information you feel they need to know, please don’t hesitate to contact LaMattery through his web site. I am mainly helping with the emotional support my brother needs, by writing him often and trying to help get him the books he needs. I have now added my email address to my profile, so, if anyone wants to discuss anything by email, please feel free to do so. Also I’d like to say that since my brother would not like his actual mailing address to become public knowledge, anyone who may want to write him, can easily do so through me. If you email me with your request, I can provide a mailing address for myself, and then be able to forward letters to him. Of course I won’t be reading or censoring them, so please, my brother needs encouragement, nothing negative. (reply to this comment)

from Bella Thursday, September 22, 2005 - 16:31 (Agree/Disagree?) Please let your brother know that a book is on the way. It's on the topic of philosophy (which is one of the topics he said he is interested in) and I hope he enjoys it. I will certainly send more if he does. Take care of yourself and best of luck to you and your family. Regards, Windy (reply to this comment)

From Disturbing Reality Friday, September 23, 2005, 09:36 (Agree/Disagree?) I will definitely let him know. Thank you so much for your help. I can’t express how happy it makes me feel, that there are actually people who want to help and will help. Thanks again and the best of luck to you and your family as well.(reply to this comment)

from Phoenixkidd Thursday, September 22, 2005 - 15:46 (Agree/Disagree?) Disturbing Reality, Could you give some more details on this person, your brother. I know you want to keep everything confidential to a degree, but I was a victor too at one time. I was at one of the first one's in Japan, but I heard that these camps were progressively worse and even more abusive in places like Europe and South East Asia. If he knows me please tell him he is free to contact me. (reply to this comment)

From Disturbing Reality Friday, September 23, 2005, 09:41 (Agree/Disagree?) He was born and raised mostly in South and North America. We never lived in Europe or Asia, so I doubt he knows you but I will definitely check it out. (reply to this comment)

from Curious about Wednesday, September 21, 2005 - 11:15 (Agree/Disagree?) I mean no disrespect with anything I write here, but I was wondering if you could give us more information about your brother's situation. If you do not feel comfortable discussing it, I completely understand. I went to LaMattery's website and didn't find much information. I'll spare you my thoughts on his article there because I can't imagine what you must be going through. I really hope for his and your sake that your brother doesn't get the "monkey in the circus" kind of attention from this. (reply to this comment)

From Disturbing Reality Thursday, September 22, 2005, 09:54 (Agree/Disagree?) I understand that you mean no disrespect in what you say, and I don’t feel disrespected in any way. However, I believe that all the information that he would like to be made public, has already been said in my post, and LaMattery’s site. Basically, he is a second generation adult who was born and raised in TFI. He lived through the things that most of us went through while in TFI, for example: the abuses, the victor’s programs, the exploiting of children, etc. He left TF as a teenager and is now serving a life sentence in a federal prison in Lousiana. He is in the appeal process, with which LaMattery is helping, and has requested some help in getting different books to him as he is not exactly in the position to be able to acquire them. I have been helping him, as have other members of my family, and now James LaMattery. Being that I work and am a university student, I don’t have the means to buy all the books for him, and so we are asking for help. If you feel the need to help, please do so, as it will definitely mean a lot to everyone involved. Thanks for your interest, and sorry for not being able to offer any more information about the issue. (reply to this comment)

From Thursday, September 22, 2005, 12:06 (Agree/Disagree?) You do realize that you are asking donors to take a lot on faith? I have never yet in my life donated for something I knew so little about.(reply to this comment)

From Disturbing Reality Friday, September 23, 2005, 09:48 (Agree/Disagree?) I agree. I don't like having to "believe by faith" either, mainly because I was forced to do so every waking day of my childhood. What details did you need to know? If you want, email me through my profile and ask me. Maybe it’ll be easier to share details by email. (reply to this comment)

From Disturbing Reality Thursday, September 22, 2005, 13:04 (Agree/Disagree?) I don't really see what other information should be needed, in order for someone to decide whether or not they feel compelled to donate a small about of their money or time, into buying a book. What other information did you need to know? I’m not going to give all the details of the situation, as I feel they aren’t necessary. But if you feel you need to know something in particular, ask about it. In my opinion, the information I gave is sufficient, but in your opinion you may need to know something more, I don’t know what more until directly asked about it. Ask me, and I’ll be able to decide whether or not I am able to provide that information. (reply to this comment)

From neez Thursday, September 22, 2005, 13:58 (Agree/Disagree?) I guess we'll have to buy the book to find out.(reply to this comment)

From I see Thursday, September 22, 2005, 13:23 (Agree/Disagree?) Because each unit of what is requested is little, we should give on faith. Faith in LaMattery no less. No transparency needed unless it is only possible to give something large.(reply to this comment)

From Disturbing Reality Friday, September 23, 2005, 09:54 (Agree/Disagree?) Thank you for pointing that out. Sort of like when we used to go canning, most people didn't care about the details of what they were donating for, because it was only spare change or maybe $1.00. (Sorry for bringing up those horrible days of our lives, just needed an example.) I'm not asking for much, and it is going to the exact place where you will send it (The Prison). If you want to help, please do so, we will appreciate it greatly. We will all need to ask for help sooner or later throughout our lives, I just hope that when that time comes for you, someone or someone’s will be willing to help you out. Count me in. (reply to this comment)