Thursday, July 9, 2020 -
Dear Friend,
I constantly must remind myself that God’s promises in Scripture are real and true. My vindication will come from Him alone (Isaiah 54:17; Proverbs 21:31). He acts on behalf of the one who waits for Him (Isaiah 64:4). Therefore, I must be patient and endure (James 5:11), for He is full of compassion and is merciful!
Prayers from you are especially critical now, as Judge Arcara, my sentencing judge, is in the final stages, hopefully, of whether or not to vacate my sentence. The basis for this is ineffective counsel because my attorneys never informed me of the statute 1204(c)(2) defense, which allows for a parent to remove a child from the country to protect he or she from a pattern of abuse. In other words, my belief that Lisa Miller was protecting her daughter from sexual abuse during court-ordered visitations was a legitimate defense for violating any “parental rights” which Janet Jenkins may have had. Please pray that Judge Arcara rules justly and quickly.
In another development, we have hired Michael Hirsh, a Peachtree City, Georgia attorney as defense attorney for my daughter Victoria, my company, Response Unlimited, and myself, in the civil suit filed in Vermont Federal Court against us and other defendants. However, we have not yet secured a local Vermont attorney, as not one can be found to help. We are requesting Judge William Sessions to waive this requirement, which he has the authority to do. Please pray in regard to this, as well.
In yet another matter, we have until July 11 to respond to the government’s objection to my request that Judge Arcara overrule the Bureau of Prison’s determination that I am a violent criminal which makes me ineligible for home confinement. I expect to meet this deadline, with the help of “D,” my “jailhouse lawyer,” which will give Judge Arcara another opportunity to send me home prior to or without vacating my sentence. According to the law, I should have already been home based on the “Senior Defender Home Confinement Pilot Program,” passed in conjunction with the First Step Act, and also due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please pray with us about this.
And during these difficult times, Kathie continues to be plagued with physical problems as we remain under lockdown with no visitation privileges. In addition to more oral surgery, she has somehow damaged her Achilles tendon in her heel, and she is hoping to avoid surgery which would keep her off her feet for months! She needs prayer!
Other than that, God sustains us, and we continue to try to be patient and endure, with your prayer support. He alone is victorious! Our little church that meets in our unit every night with between 10-13 men packed into a 7’x9’ cell continues to grow in the Lord and be used of Him. Thank you for continuing to pray!
In His Service,
Philip Zodhiates 18649-084
Ashland Federal Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 6001
Ashland, KY 41105