Subj: THINGS WE CAN DO NOW TO HELP LES COLEMAN Date: 3/17/2000 9:42:22 AM Pacific Standard Time From: Ru Mills To: rumills@onelist.com CC: aoude@hotmail.com
Dear Rumor Mill News Readers,
From Rayelan Allan, (Russbacher)
Les Coleman was convicted. He will be sentenced April 10th.
I still have not heard from Les or his friend Bill, who is in Lexington. The information I have is from the newspapers. If you have not seen the stories on the Rumor Mill News Forum, here is the link to the "Read Only" Forum.
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Even though I have not been given recommendations of things that we can do to help, I know -- because I have been there -- what is most needed right now.
At the moment, the best thing we can do is send Les and his family notes of encouragement. More than likely, the case will be overturned on appeal. But Les will remain incarcerated until this sentence is reversed.
His bail was only $10,000, but he and his friends could not raise it. (If by chance you happen to have that kind of money, please contact Bill and ask him if Les can still be released on bail.)
Les's wife is Mary-Claude Coleman. I know what she is going through because I went through it when Gunther was sentenced to 28 years in prison.
When you hear a prison sentence passed on someone you love, you go numb. I went to bed and asked God to let me die. I imagine that Mary-Claude is going through similar emotions right now.
Please send her a card and let her know that she is in the thoughts and prayers of thousands of Americans who know the truth about Les. Send her letters to their friend, Bill. Please enclose some money, even $5.00.
When I was married to Gunther, each 15 minute phone call cost $15.00. The prison industry uses these lucrative phone contracts to raise the money to run the prisons and jails. In other words, the prisoners' families pay for their incarceration.
Each time I opened a letter that contained a check or cash, I cried. Each month, the thousands of supporters that Gunther and I had, sent enough money, in five, ten and twenty dollar checks, to pay the four and five hundred dollar phone bills.
Some people agreed to install three way calling so that Gunther could call them, and then they would call me. Prisons and jails try to do everything they can to separate a prisoner from his family. Making phone calls so expensive keeps prisoners from communicating with their families. Soon the families stop making contact, and then the authorities are free to treat the prisoner any way they want. Please don't let this happen to Les Coleman.
The American people stood up for Gunther and me. Please stand with me as I try to stand up for Les Coleman.
You can send letters and money to:
Bill Harrison 102 Lakawana Rd. Lexington, KY 40503
*******
Les's children are probably devastated by their father's conviction. The local newspapers have painted him poorly. Not only are the children in a foster home, they will have to endure the taunts and painful teasing of their class mates. Please send them a note and let them know that their father is a hero to hundreds of thousands of Americans.
Lester Coleman children,
[Josh, Chad (10 or 11) and Sarah (13 or 14)]
c/o Angela Harris
627 W. 4th St.
Lexington, KY 40508
*******
This is Les's address at the jail. Please send him a letter NOW. I don't know how quickly he will be moved, and if Kentucky is like other states, his mail will not be forwarded. He can accept Postal Money Orders. Even if it is just five dollars, please send something along with your note and send a copy of the letter you have sent to the paper or his family.
Les Coleman In-The-Dungeon
4B 200 Clark ST.
Lexington, KY 40507
*********
Unfortunately, most people who are interested in information like this have already bankrupted themselves trying to help those who have been wrongly accused and unjustly incarcerated.
If YOU happen to have money that you can spare, PLEASE, please share some of it with this family. What goes around comes around, and you will be rewarded for this.
********
The following is a letter sent by a reader of RMNews to the Managing Editor of the Lexington Herald-Leader, Mr. Eblen.
Mr Eblen's email address is included. Please email him and ask him to send a reporter to interview Les. The public needs to hear Les's side of the story.
***************
Here's a letter I just sent to Mr. Eblen, Managing Editor of the Lexington Herald-Leader. His email address is teblen@herald-leader.com
Subject: Les Coleman Trial & Conviction Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 11:14:27 -0500 From: C To:
teblen@herald-leader.com
Dear Mr. Eblen,
Thank you for reporting on the Coleman story.
I'm writing today to ask that you run yet another Coleman story that provides information about the Defense arguments in this case rebutting or responding to the prosecution's evidence.
Also, could you provide information as to why Coleman's job at WLXG ended - was it some conflict about Coleman's style, subject matter, relationship with management or was it part of a long planned format change. If it was a format change, was the decision unusual by WLXG standards or industry standards?
I'm also interested in Coleman's work as a private investigator. Was Coleman self-employed? Did he contract for various agencies, and if so, what other agencies? What sort of investigations did Coleman conduct?
Finally, about Mr. Coleman's children in foster care - are they being kept together, or were they seperated? Did the Colemans have any say as to where and with whom the children were placed? Will the children be allowed to visit their father and will those visits - transportation, etc. - be facilitated by the Commonwealth?
Any follow-up reporting about the Coleman case will be much appreciated.
Sincerely,
C
*********
You can also write a letter to Lexington Hearald Leader asking why Lester Coleman is being held in such draconian conditions:
No fresh air for 6 weeks --- lights on 24 hours a day -- poor diet, extreme overcrowded conditions,--- people sleeping on floor --- inadequate medical care at the Fayette County Detention Center.
Herald Leader 100 Midland Ave Lexington Ky 40508
"Whatever you do for the least of my people, you do for me."
Jesus was a prisoner too.
Please help.
Rayelan
