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POST 9: EIGHT YEARS NOW!
I woke up today to my Facebook Memories blowing up with all the years that I have done an anniversary post. Each time I say I am going to post on here more of the story. I left off where I had to because I honestly don't remember some of it. In the middle of all the court hearings, the amount of injustice that was happening was so far from any common sense that it created PTSD in me. What happened in court was far more hurtful than anything that man could have done to us, considering he was in court for kidnapping and attempting to murder me and the rape of molestation of my oldest daughter, that says a lot. I have said this hundred times it feels like but it is true.
I watched the DA blatantly lie on the stand, I later found out more lies once I became a Paralegal and had access to most all of the files from the case. I was astounded once again by the system. Now that I have access to these records, it's easier for me to put a timeline together, but it's going to take time. It seems like until I am out of my brick and mortar it's not going to happen. However, I am going to take some time aside today to share more of the story, the best I can.
John Rosenberg was on television a couple of weeks ago, he was the "friend" of the guy who lost his house to an arson fire in Selma, Oregon. Its funny, a former employee who used to work for me back when I was married to him and going through the hell I went through was here. We watched it and the first thing we both said was, "he probably started the fire." He would not normally be on tv unless he had an ulterior motive, like looking not guilty or to show his face to us knowing we would see it. It was strange to watch him act all angel-like when I know the real evil that lies inside. I was the one that he beat, made to wallow in his presence, forced me to shower, etc just minutes before he was going to kill me. Thank god that our county at the time had Sheriffs because if it had happened in the last 5 years, we have no sheriffs any longer and I would not be here. That is why I lobbied all those years for the Safety Levy. Our community does not understand that it cost money to have law enforcement, and its the best money spent. Say no to the new football field at the local high school, so no to the gas tax, but don't say no to your safety. It could be you that has to email the sheriffs department instead of picking up the phone and getting 911.
Seeing him reminded me how far I have truly come in my healing. I have spent years at the gun range making sure I know how to use and be comfortable with all the firearms I keep on me and near me at all times. I have never seen John in the almost 3 years he has been out of prison, I often wonder what I would do if I came face to face with him. I honestly don't know what I would do, but I would not be afraid for ONE SECOND to defend myself. It is sad that a man like that, who the Parole Office breaks all the rules for, doesn't require him to work or go to school because, in their own words, HE IS TOO DANGEROUS. When they told me that, I asked the Parole Officer to repeat it. And then I said do you hear yourself, why is he out in our community then? He has been put in jail a few times for breaking parole, including using another sex offenders phone to contact my youngest daughter, his only blood child. I never said he was smart. He spent 7-8 days in jail for that. He is allowed over 70 days of jail before breaking parole and being sent back to prison to do the year they let him off of. What a system. Its amazing what we teach a criminal.
I want to take a moment to talk about Measure 11. Its a law in the State of Oregon that the top 10 heinous crimes come with a minimum sentence. In the case of Rape, Molestation and Sodomy that is 8.5 years minimum for each charge. Mr. Rosenberg had seven Measure 11 charges total for these crimes. The District Attorney was prepared to go to trial, it was only a couple weeks away. He summoned myself, my youngest daughter and my manager to his office. He had more questions for each of us. Finally, the last conversation was that we are going to trial are you ready. I said yes, my youngest was with me in the room.
A week and a half later, I get a call from my attorney telling me to RUN to the courthouse right now. Mr. Rosenberg's attorney's paralegal had come by my attorney's office to drop off papers and asked my attorney why he wasn't there for the hearing that is going on right now where the DAs office is making a plea bargain. My store was only 2 blocks from the courthouse, so I left my manager to run the store and I ran to the court. The look on the DA, Ryan Mulkins's face was evident that they were trying to do something without my knowledge. He couldn't even look at me. I sat there and listened and tried to interrupt when I found out that it was a plea bargain they were trying to do taking the 63 years in charges down to 5 years and calling it all attempted. My kidnapping and attempted murder were pleaded down to 4th degree assault. At the time, I was not as legally savvy or as outspoken as I am now, so I did not say much. I was defeated in every way possible. Why would they do this without talking to me? I found out why a victim has NO RIGHTS or say so in that part of a criminal hearing. Our rights are generic and minimal, I would learn later. The plea bargain was agreed upon and it was a done deal, now on to sentencing. Which was a few weeks later and a post all on its own.
Mr. Mulkins has recently stepped down from his District Attorneys position and is known for the most plea deals in the history of our courts. Our illustrious, corrupt and evil Governor, Kate Brown, gives our courts money for each plea that they successfully obtain. This incentive puts criminals on the streets right back in the place that they did the crime. You see, in Oregon, unlike a lot of states, the criminal is required to parole to the same county that they committed their crimes. So a victim never really gets justice from the beginning to the of any case. When Mr. Mulkins "retired," from his position and they posted it online on a news station, I did not hesitate to say what I thought. I hope he read it because I made a promise that I would make him think someday, "I should have done the right thing, it would have been much easier." I will never know if that happens, but I can hope.
I have worked with the National Crime Law Institute in Portland, attending workshops over a weekend two years ago. While there I learned of their work on victims' rights, and we are getting close to having real rights and being able to be a part of the process more than they ever let us be before. The MeToo movement has helped a lot throughout the process. While there, I sat at a table of mostly lawyers for lunch. I started a conversation with a gentleman that was nearest to me, asking what kind of law he was in. He said business law. I thought it odd that he be there since it was mostly about domestic violence and sex trafficking. He then told me something that just shocked me. He was the lawyer that implemented the Measure 11 law. He was the one that lobbied for it. I couldn't believe it, I was quite gobsmacked at the time. I had lots of questions and he was nice enough to answer them. We were at lunch so there was not much time but what I learned is that he had an experience where a lady was telling him her domestic violence story and it moved him so much that he felt there had to be a change and he did. It took many years and a lot of help from other associates but they got it done. However, like all laws, here is a loophole. I wanted to know why my ex-husband who did all these things was being pleaded down and let go in four years instead of 63 years like he deserved and should have had. What happened to you do the crime, you do the time. He briefly explained it to me but to this day I still don't understand it. I got his card and although I have wanted to reach out a number of times I have not, then I misplaced his card and hope to find it someday because I am ready to talk to him again. I have so much to share with him too, I have been busy for the last two years getting my Paralegal certification and a years experience, I know so much more than I did then.
One of the first things I did when I got access to the Oregon database as a Paralegal was to look up the case. An eye-opener that was. Back when the plea bargain happened, I was told by Mr. Mulkins to my face that, " I should be grateful for getting the 5 years, it could be less or time served at this point," and I looked to him thinking maybe I should be grateful, this was one year into the criminal case, five years would give us a chance to get well, move or whatever we needed to do. He then told me, "because he pleads NO CONTEST is why that is the most time they can get on him if he had pleaded GUILTY it would have been different." So again I believe what they tell me. Once I got access to the database, I always wondered about the NO CONTEST part of what he said. I was not allowed to see the documents, but here I was with the ability to see almost all the documents on the case. The first thing I did was go to that day, to that document and brought it up on the screen. Take a guess what it said. Therewith my own eyes I am reading the document (I will add it here when I get a chance) and it is signed by John Rosenberg himself and it says GUILTY. I nearly had heart failure. How can they do that to someone, how do they sleep at night, how dare they lie through their teeth once again. I swore that day that I would hold the DA and his office accountable for all of this and I have and will continue to do so.
I have taken them to court, I show up in courts and make them answer questions. I send letters to the Department of Justice and I ask them to read the sign that is outside their office that states that they are for the victim and what they do for them and I ask them why they didn't do that for me. The answer is always, I don't have to answer that. They got their own Crime Victims Advocate that works in the DAs office to lie on the stand as well, and that one we proved in a court of law and the DAs office was found guilty of violating our crime victims' rights. So yes, I will continue to be a thorn, I am upset that I did not continue to take them to court for all the injustices they did, but I was gagged and bound by my business that I could not get away from when I needed during business hours. That is why once I no longer have that stranglehold they are going to wish they never did what they did. They will see my face EVERY SINGLE DAY!
It's not fear that I have any longer, it is anger. Anger is what keeps me motivated, without it I would become complacent and that cannot happen. I will succeed in making sure that what I have been through is not in vain. That I will change laws and make the Criminal Justice System the Victims Justice System. SOMEDAY!!
Today marks 8 years since my life changed. I look forward to many more with stories of change not only for my family but for so many out there that are not getting the justice they deserve. I will not stop ever, my life is dedicated to this cause. And you John Rosenberg, live in squalor and in a place that is just perfect for evil and sick monsters like you. I love that I get to watch Karma, you have nothing. I have everything. You tried so hard to break me in every way, even financially. But even poor, I have more than you will ever have. I have the love of my children, you have nothing but pure hate from them. How do you look at yourself in the mirror and not see what you have done, how to breathe, how do you think for one moment that you even deserve to be alive? I can't wait for the day that you do stop breathing, because I will stand at your grave and spit on it and wish you the very best in hell where you belong. I will hate you for all of my life and hope that you get everything you deserve.
Lets see what this year brings us. Hopefully the sale of the business, then I can get back to the business of JUSTICE! I would be ecstatic!
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