Finally
Finally, I’m out of jail…that was something else…Finally a message from me to you…thanks for being patient, I had a few things to take care of once I got out as I’m sure you can imagine.
First and foremost, thank you, thank you, thank you to my friends and family for your support during this trying time. Thanks to everyone who took the time to write letters to the magistrate on my behalf. Thanks to everyone who offered to sign surety bonds for me. The biggest thanks to those who were required to step up and put their signature on a bond to help me get out. There aren’t words to express my thanks and gratitude to all of you. Specifically I’d like to thank my wife Tracy who took all the weight of my incarceration on her shoulders. Even though we’ve been seperated for over 3 years, both Tracy and her boyfriend Canute were there for me every step of the way. In addition, my mother, Patricia Trunnell and my step-father Harry Trunnell for putting up their home and some cash to pay for my defense team. I love you guys. My brother, Michael WIlson for his emotional support and his efforts to set up my legal defense fund. Stephen and Jennifer Hope for signing a surety bond. Eddie Codel for setting up this website and also signing a surety bond. Nanci Clarence for being the best defense attorney I could ask for. Kate Dyer, Johnathan Howden, Jeffrey Sinek, and Eric Ferraro for being the rest of the best defense team I could ask for. And Jennifer Scarlett, Anna Brown, Jennifer Hill, Rebecca Hill, Evan Kirchoff, Gabriella Marks, Jeffrey Barth, Chris Neumann, Donald and Anabel Foery, John Giesecke, and Tim Rockwood for your emotional support and efforts. Without all of you, I’d be gone and forgotten and for that I can’t thank you enough.
One last shout out to Oscar….the greatest dog on the planet (that’s a dad talking)….I’ve never had a better welcome home…
As for me, well, things are in flux on virtually every level. If there is one thing I can say, don’t believe the hype. The DEA is very good at painting a picture that is not indicative of the situation. My dispensary was a non-profit and to paint me or my employees as profiteers is simply appalling. At this time I can’t really go into specifics however once I have time to sit and meet with my defense team (no, you really don’t get to do that while you’re in jail) I hope to be able to deliver my side of this story and counter their distorted claims.
For those of you who want to assist me in any way, there will be more information posted here in the coming days. I’m currently getting a legal defense fund set up where people can donate money to a non-profit and write the donation off of your taxes. I am also interested in financing my defense through some loans to be paid back on a reasonable schedule for those of you who may not be able to simply throw money at my cause. Fundraising is my primary focus because since I ran my companies above board all of my financial assets were in the bank and all of those assets have been seized. Thanks to my family and friends I’m getting by and hope to start working as a freelance designer again. If you know of any available work out there, give me a buzz. I’m also looking for inexpensive computer gear as it appears as though a group of my employees broke into my apartment while I was in jail and stole everything of value. I was shocked at first but when speaking to other prisoners in jail it is, apparently, a common thing. Needless to say, I’m bummed about all of that. There are other aspects that you can assist with as well…I’m looking for a new apartment as my flat is a bit pricey given my current financial situation…again if you know of anything available or coming available, send it my way…if you’re interested in helping me do some moving, there’s a lot of that to be done in the coming weeks as well…every little thing helps if it saves me money too…
Many of you who know me know this is not me. I don’t ask a lot of favors…I don’t ask for help…as a matter of fact my attorneys were told by many of my closest friends “Sparky will work it out.” Well, while I will obviously do everything I can, this is one job I can’t do alone…at least in the early months while I get my entire life recalibrated to my situation while fundraising and actually staging my defense. I need to lean on my friends, my family, and anyone else who believes in my cause…this will be the fight of and for my life so if you can help, please do.
Before I go I noticed there have been some comments about my lack of support for the medical cannabis movement. Please do a little research and get your facts straight. I’ve made consistent donations to ASA when the money was available to do so and I provided hours and hours of my own time as well as that of my corporate counsel (at my cost) to assisting Ross Mirkarimi’s office in crafting the medical cannabis ordinance governing dispensaries in the City of San Francisco. I also worked with Michela Alioto-Pier’s office during the time the legislation was going to the Board of Supervisors. Everyone can always do more, including myself, but to say that I did nothing is far from the truth.
Thank you all and peace.
Sparky Wilson Rose