I am 54 years old & of Indigenous Tribal decent (Indian) and Cantonese Chinese.
I have been incarcerated since 1987. I was 18 years old. I am serving “LOWP” sentence and am presently at Calipatria State Prison and am house on “D” yard, where many (most) of us lifers and inmates are working hard to change and better ourselves as people.
I received an “LOWP” sentence for 1st degree murder and 1st degree robbery and 1st degree burglary. I was convicted in Riverside County with “Special Circumstance “for “Burglary & Robbery” (P.C./190.2/A/17), Aiding & Abetting) for the death of a human being.
There is not a day that goes by that I do not allow myself to forget that the life of Maxine was taken because I lost my way in life as a young man. I don’t feel I can ever express enough “sadness or sorrow” to encompass the value of a human life and the loss there of that will forever burden by heart forever and for this I have committed my life to being of service to others and changing my life entirely for the better of mankind.
I can now say 1000% that I am in no way the lost, confused, hurt, naive, childish, scared, irresponsible and misguided 18 year old kid who would allow himself to ever be involved in any type of hurting of any human being ever again. I continuously stay enrolled in self-help groups. I have already completed and received (3) CGA-Criminal & Gang Anonyms Certificates w/Chrono’s, (2) Anger Management Certificates, (1) Alternative to Violence, (1) Insight to Childhood Development. I am a full time certified Ordained Minister with the Universal Life Church, so I make myself available to inmates on the yard & buildings for counseling, prayer and any type of optimistic guidance. I am presently doing a course on “Addictions & Substance Abuse” the Gogi way and my favorite is a group I’m extremely proud to be a part of is called “LWOP Alliance”. This is a powerful group of men who are committed to extreme change and redemption that we hope and pray will one day lead us home to spiritual peace and a life of service towards human beings.
There are no words I can say or anything I can do to bring Maxine back or stop the pain & sorrow I caused to everyone and for this I am forever eternally sorry. I am no longer that 18 years old and I no longer live that lie! I’m forever changed and a different man. I’m a God loving & fearing man that walks in balance with the spirit of creation & all its beauty.
I’ve never been in or involved in any gangs and I have no drug record to this day. Please keep me in your prayers as I do you in mine, Thank you for your time & understanding while reading this.
William Mello-E46820
CSP/D3-107
PO Box 5007
Calipatria, CA 92233