Steven Speal  -#7 on the CAN-DO Top 25 men – got the best Holiday news ever – he’s going home!!!

Name: Steven Blair Speal
DOB: 8-4-71
Race: White
Marital Status: Single
Age: 45
Raised: Oklahoma
Case was tried: Wichita, Kansas
Will release to: Vian, Oklahoma
Charges: Count 1 conspiracy to distribute 267 grams of a mixture of substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and 41 lbs of marijuana
count 2 possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
count 3 possession with intent to distribute marijuana
count 4 felon in possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime
Sentence:  2 life sentences, 2 – 10 year sentences, 2 – 5 year sentences
Served: 19 years 5 months 4 days
Sentence began:  Arrested 4-1-1997
Priors: Yes
Supporters:  I have many letters of support from staff,  plus, Michael M. O’Hear law professor. Director Marquette clemency workshop;
ACLU Jennifer Turner
Mary and Ken McMillan Weldon McMillan Chris McMillan Shier McMillan nieces and nephews Josh Harley
Institution: Jesup Ga. med 2680 hwy 301 south zip 31599
Accomplishments: I given my life to Jesus; been clean and sober for 12 years; AA/NA co-facilataor for years co-facilataor of life with out a crutch;
I am an inmate companion have been for years now – I speak to every pre-release group;
Have completed over 50 classes:
608and 609 Certification
Microsoft windows
I teach wealth building 1AND 2 ,READING AND REVEW
I have a great progress report, and have been clean and sober for 12 years now.
Conduct: I had some write-ups while at Beaumont pen but have been shot free for over 12 years ..I had a really hard time coping with the fact that I would have to die in prison.

According to Steven: 
I ran to drugs and alcohol; it all started with me being in learning disability classes in the first grade and never fitting in with anyone.Then I found out the pain from not fitting in would go away when I was drunk, or later, when I got high in high school I had to find a way to pay for me not wanting to face the truth of being a outcast.  I stated selling joints’ in high school.  I found false love; people acted like they liked me if I had pot to smoke with them. This all progressed over the years while I tried to stay high all my life till the last 12 years.  Then, I started college in 1989.  That same year, on October 11 1989 I wrecked my motorcycle causing my head to swell twice its normal size because I had no helmet and went heard first. I broke my arm and was lucky to live through it.  October 31 1989 I was arrested for having 4 sandwich bags of marijuana in an igloo cooler that was big enough for a six pack. There was some zanex in the car also.  I was not the owner of the car or the driver this was possession of c.d.s with intent to distribute.  I had 4 arrests with this one the last was c.d.s. with intent to sell 11 bags of marijuana – all sentenced on the same day in front of the same judge and ran concurrent.

Why I deserve clemency:

I have been in Federal Prison for 19 years 6 mounts 15 days ,serving a life without parole sentence. My sentence was handed down as the result of a drug case. Since I have been in prison i have lost many close immediate family members including my grand parents, my father, and others.

When I was young I made many really bad decisions, and choices. I used and sold drugs and for that I’m truly sorry, because i feel that my choices have hurt many people. As a kid i started using drugs at age 11 and I am now 45 yrs old. I am finally clean and sober for 12 yrs thanks to God and the AA/NA Programs i have attended over the years.
My life in prison at first was filled with more pain than i could deal with and i failed even more inside these walls, but after some serious soul searching, I decided to make the right choices. My prison life now consists of doing what is right for my life and my future.
I spend my days working in a sewing factory for 7 hours a day,5 days aweek and when there is the opportunity for overtime I work 12 hours a day 6 days a week. I attend classes at least one day a week and I teach several classes 4 days a week, including Saturdays. I am also an inmate companion volunteer which is to help watch inmates that are on suicide watch. I have been an inmate companion for 6 years, I have a heart for helping thees people bcouse I relate with the pain they are going through I take the 8-11 p.m. shift so as not to interfere with my work or school schedule.

I have been allowed to speak to every pre-release group for the past 9 years, and I tell my story. I count it a privilege to speak to those leaving prison, to try to get them to understand, and think right and make the right decisions and choices in life.I talk about everything that they do not want to go through and everything we looes when we make bad choices and so much more. I always ask that before they consider another crime to think about me with a LIFE sentence, and know that nothing is worth spending one day in prison, especially not the rest of one’s life.

I have been a facilitator in the AA/NA programs and life without a crutch.
I have completed other classes and courses that include those such as certification programs for the H.V.A.C.R. ( Heating.Ventilation.Air conditioning and Refrigeration) 608 and 609 E.P.A certification which certifies me to handle refrigerants as well as install refrigerants in residential and automotive Air conditioning and refrigeration systems. I received these through Altamaha technical College. I have completed anger management, Microsoft office, and many more, the list is far too long to list it all here.
I remain in touch with my family through the phone system here to try to encourage them in every way. I desire to see my mother’s last days be far better than her earlier day, she has just turned 68 years old, and her health has deteriorated in several ways. I deeply desire another chance at freedom and the chance to be with my family and to apply myself in doing what is right and productive. My life has truly been a mess, from childhood I know that I must move past the failures of the past and walk in the lessons learned throughout these 19 years 6 months and 15 days that I have spent here in prison.
If you can find it in your heart to help me in any way, I can assure you that you will not regret the effort to help me obtain this second chance in life. I can never say that I am perfect because I am not, nor will I ever be, however my true foundation is with God and with a new life I can make it, not alone though nor on my own or in my own way, but with the help from God, and a mind that has been made over in the way of what is right, I will live a life that is productive. I know that I will be a great ASSET to society instead of the liability that I have been.