![]() ![]() We drove with Wershe through parts of Detroit, which stirred up memories from the 80s, when his life changed forever after he was convicted of selling drugs and sentenced to life without parole as a teen. If I see someone in need I try to help them. “One thing I’d like people to know is I care about others. After seeing the problems within the system from the inside, he's come back here to Detroit's east side to help others and partner with the organization called "Team Wellness." The changes I can help Team Wellness make in our community," he said.Īfter being arrested in the 1980s, Wershe spent decades advocating for prison reform. “I don’t want my legacy to be White Boy Rick, I want my legacy to be what I do after I was released from prison, the changes I can help make to the justice system. He's also dedicating himself to helping others in the system who are struggling. After completing time in Michigan and Florida on unrelated charges, Wershe once again hopes to focus on family as a father, grandfather, and fiance. It’s an absolute travesty," Hathaway said.Įventually, a parole board ruling granted Rick's freedom in 2017. He wasn’t going to weddings or birthdays. “Rick has spent his 20th, 30th, 40th & 50th birthdays in prison and every year in between. “I don’t want my legacy to be White Boy Rick, I want my legacy to be what I do after I was released from prison, the changes I can help make to the justice system." Yet, a broken system hasn't broken his spirit, and he's continued to publicly thank Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Dana Hathaway, who took a stand to push for his release. Today, the same crime for which Rick was locked up at age 17 would only land someone three years at most. But, if he ever needs me I’m there," Wershe added. The respect and gratitude I have for what Ralph did for me, and sticking by me. “What happened to him wasn’t criminal in the statutory sense, but it was highly immoral," Musilli said. Prior to his release, Musilli also obtained a sworn affidavit from a retired detective, proving lies were told by police and public officials to hurt Wershe at his parole hearings. Musilli is a close friend to Wershe and remains part of his legal team. It’s not right.”Īttorney Ralph Musilli took Wershe's case back in the 1980s and has been with him all along. My mother, father, sister, children, they all lost me for 32 years. “The people that conspired to keep me in prison, nothing will ever happen to them, they look in the mirror every day and know what they did to me," he added. They were blatant lies to the parole board, and they committed crimes to keep me in prison," he said. “There were letters that were written falsely saying I committed crimes I was never charged with. He said false testimony by police led to countless denials of parole. Supreme Court in 2012 and called cruel and unusual punishment, Wershe remained in prison. While the state law was found unconstitutional by the U.S. Now, a free man at 51 years old, Wershe has lived the effects of a mandatory life law for anyone caught with 650 grams of cocaine or more. "Where I come from Simon, it's usually poverty that drives you to those things," he said. Some in the media back then portrayed Wershe as the head of a drug empire, someone he never was Wershe was an underage FBI informant living a fast life, trying to get ahead on the city's east side in areas you can still see blight today. "I didn’t learn to sell drugs and my family didn’t teach me. But, I was pushed into that life by our law enforcement and our government," he added. “I don’t think I should have done 5 or 6 years for the crime I committed, if that. There has also been a book deal, and another documentary soon to come Nearly 33 years after leaving the home in Southfield, he returned and found some memories still feel like yesterday. Had a lot of good memories here, a lot of good memories. "I'm a little emotional, (it's) been a long time. 15, 1988 in the morning and never returned until now," he said. He said it was the last place things felt normal to him. Re-living his past and what he calls ‘a broken system'ĭuring the days of the interview, Wershe wanted to visit a home in Southfield. It’s the first time we’re hearing from Wershe in three decades. He was released in July, and now, he's talking about his past, present, and future. spent more than 32 years in prison for a non-violent drug offense. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |