Thursday, April 23, 2020 -
I had realized that Warden Beard probably merely looked at my charge and saw the word “kidnapping,” which of course has very hideous connotations – and rightfully so. And thus, I prayed about whether to email the warden back, explaining further the situation for my incarceration, which he likely knew nothing about. I conferred about this with Kathie, as well, and W strongly encouraged me to email back immediately.
And so, this morning I sent him the following:
“Dear Warden Beard,
“With all due respect, I ask you to look into my case a little further. Watch the short video at www.wall4america.com, and read what is written about my case at www.419fund.com and www.lifesitenews.com.
“I was convicted for giving a woman and her seven-year-old child a ride from Virginia to New York, from where they fled the country because the little girl was being sexually and emotionally abused by a former lesbian civil union partner of the mother at unsupervised court-ordered visitations. The Vermont Family Court judge, back long before the Obergefell Supreme Court decision, chose to ignore the abuse in order to push through his political agenda of negating Virginia’s Marriage Protection Amendment to its Constitution, which forbade the recognition of same-sex civil unions or marriages of other states. The mother’s name is the only name on the birth certificate, and she had full custody at the time.
“The statue under, which I was convicted specifically allows for a parent to remove a child from the United States if that child or parent is victim of a pattern of domestic violence, a term the U.S. Department of Justice and Second Circuit Court of Appeals have both affirmed as meaning among other things sexual, emotional and physical abuse, of which in this case both mother and child were fleeing. My lawyers never told me of this affirmative defense and said the abuse couldn’t be mentioned in my trial as it would provide a motive for my actions. Hence, I have filed and expect to receive a vacated sentence from my sentencing judge. I broke no laws!
“In the meanwhile, I implore you to reconsider and allow me to spend the rest of my incarceration on home confinement. You are equating me with sex offenders and violent criminals, while just the opposite is true. I was protecting a desperate mother and child from horrible sexual and emotional abuse. You are claiming it is worse than a drug dealer who helps destroy the lives of thousands of young people, or those who have defrauded others of hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars. Please explain your rationale.
“Respectfully,
“Philip Zodhiates 18649-084”
I encourage you to immediately write Warden H. Allen Beard your own letter on my behalf at Ashland Federal Correctional Institution, P.O. Box 888, Ashland, KY 43305-0888. You may copy Mr. Michael Carvajal, Director, Federal Bureau of Prisons, 320 First Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20534; Attorney General William Barr, and U.S. President Donald Trump. Please help me make the case that what I was convicted of does not meet the same standard of severity as sex offense or violent crime, which are ineligible for home detention. Remember, I am at high risk for developing the COVID-19 coronavirus due to my age (65), high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. Thank you for your continued prayers!
Both Kathie and I are at peace no matter what happens, for God may have a purpose for my remaining here. “Not my will, but Yours, Heavenly Father!”