Until May 8th, 2008-- when Brent succumbed as the legal victim of blackmail and lawful bullying by Maricopa County Prosecutor Andrew Thomas to an unjust and unjustified Plea Agreement-- Brent was a high-ranking Boy Scout and Young Marine, proud to be both, and amazing in his duty to both organizations simultaneously. He was the Assistant Troop Leader for his Troop, ready to begin his Eagle Project at the age of 14 as the fastest-ranking Boy Scout in Arizona in twenty years, and the First Sergeant for his unit, as well as the top-ranking Young Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant in the State of Arizona.
He'd recently been awarded a Marine Corps League Certificate of Appreciation from a local Detachment for selfless service for an Iwo Jima survivor; each Unit participant was additionally awarded a Certificate for their outstanding service to the Iwo Jima survivors, our Nation's Service Veterans, and Tribal Elders from around the State, under Brent's guidance and leadership. He worked side-by-side with his Young Marines unit and helped them achieve the Honor of being awarded the National Exchange Club's Book of Golden Deeds Award, a Division Meritorious Unit Commendation, and co-winner for Grand Canyon Regiment Unit of the Year 2006-2007-- all of these within a six-month period.
He's a quiet young man, like his father in that respect, deeply feeling and thoughtful though rarely demonstrative either emotionally or reactively. He cares for others: he's the "big brother" to all the Young Marines in his unit, always caring first for their safety, security and welfare before his own. He has a gift for taming feral animals without trying. His favorite cat, Buell, cries for him constantly, now he's not home, sleeps on his bed, and paces the house looking for him. She is heartbroken and lonely.
Brent's life plan was to enter the Marine Corps after his High School Graduation, work through college during that stint, and then apply for Officer Training School. He intended to devote his life to service to our Country and the continued Freedom of his fellow patriots. He considered a career teaching history, to follow in the footsteps of one of his mentors, a "Mud-Marine" Captain. He seriously considered the video-gaming industry also, as well as pharmeucology. Now he may never recieve that high school diploma.
He's an honest and responsible person, with high moral standards and high ethical standards for both his own and others' behavior. He faces adversity with both eyes open. He is not perfect. He is a kid, and kids make mistakes, sometimes BIG mistakes. He has been raised to believe that every person deserves ONE chance to correct their FIRST mistake, and put their life back on the right track. He will never be given his ONE chance for his ONLY mistake. The judicial system will never allow him to correct his mistake; instead he will be forced into a dangerous environment that will change his belief to bitterness, with a record that will unrealistically rule the remainder of his optinos in life.
He doesn't know who he was on March 22nd, 2007, and neither did we, his parents, at that time. All we knew was that he wasn't acting at all like the person we knew so well-- he knew it too, from the depth of depression when we found him, mentally struggling to hold onto the small piece of himself he still recognized. That's why we went to our peace officers the next day. We were deeply frightened NOT to recognize our boy in those eyes, and had to decide to either protect our son or to protect our son as well as the rest of our community. We were not frightened OF Brent, but FOR him. It was the hardest decision we'd ever made, and we needed guidance to proceed, especially with the pure numbing and incapacitating shock that overcame us without warning. Did we believe our local police would send us in the right direction for the good of everyone potentially involved-- inlcuding our boy? You betcha!
Did the help us or you, our community? Mesa PD probably would have, if not for the interference of the Marticopa County Prosecutor Andrew Thomas-- who decided to file ADULT charges immediatley after JUVENILE Miranda was administered, several hours before Mesa PD concluded their investigation, and only 3 minutes after it began. Can we hold Mesa PD accountable? NO. Our officers acted on the boss' authority.
