FIRST DAY IN EL PASO

This is where it all began. This is where my life changed and twisted in a totally different direction. My Dad had recently announced that we were moving to El Paso, Tx. Here we were living outside of Frankfort, Ky., living the “Country” life. But it was time to move on. My Dad said that God had spoken to him, and told him that he needed to be reaching those “Heathen-Catholic Mexicans”. I always suspected that my Dad’s life-long friend, who was stationed in El Paso and was trying to start a Baptist Church, was really the “Voice of God” he was hearing. But I guess that was neither here nor there. I mean God does work in mysterious ways, right?
So we loaded up a moving truck, piled the five of us in the car, and took off on our 2,000 mile journey to our new home. I don’t remember much of the actual trip, but there was one moment that kinda sticks out in my mind. We were about 60 mles away from our destination. My sister and I had just figured out how many licks it really took to get to the tootsie-roll center of a tootsie-roll-pop. I was honing my Rubik’s cube skills, my sister was mixing it up and timing me with a stop-watch as I solved it, that was actually the first time that I solved it in under a minute (:58 to be exact). My mom was drawing the beautiful mountain scenery with her colored pencils on a sketch pad. She was a gifted artist, always very creative. My very insightful (almost psychic) sister got my attention, pointed at Mom, and with a sad look in her eyes told me, “We’ll never see Mom draw again.” I thought that was a weird statement from a 7-year-old, but turns out she was right. El Paso seems to suck the creativity right out of you. Must be the water.
About an hour later we pulled up in front of our new house. It wasn’t much. It was the first time any of us had seen it. You see, the members of the church had picked it out in our absence, and seeing as that the church had only 9 members, they couldn’t afford the rent for much better. LUCKY US! To tell the truth, I was actually pretty excited, the newness of anything pretty much excited me. We all went inside, decided where everything was to be placed, and left it to the movers to set up our “casa”.
Here is where the “Culture Shock” actually set in. Looking around, we could see the curious neighbors checking us out. It seemed like they all knew who we were already, there was pointing and talking, but we couldn’t understand a word being said. Then finally, my prized possesion (my bike) came off the truck. I jumped right on it and started riding in circles in front of the house. I soon got bored with that and I really wanted to go exploring, (must of been the country-boy in me). I asked my Dad if I could ride around the block real quick to check things out. Dad was excited and in a good mood so he of course said,”yes”. I think I was probably being annoying, trying to help. So anything to get me out of the way seemed like a good idea.
I took off on my bike, wide-eyed and full of excitement. I got to the end of the block and noticed there was a park right at the corner. I pulled into the park, excited that there was a place to play all my sports, whenever I wanted. There was a basketball court, a big field for football, and a playground. JACKPOT! Then I heard someone say, “Hey!” I looked around the corner and saw a group of Hispanic kids on bicycles, they were dressed so weird to me, all wearing T-shirts and khakis with their hair all slicked back. I later found out that they were referred to as “Cholos” or in this case since they were between the ages of 10-13 I guess theywere really “Cholitos”. Then one said to the others,”That’s the keed who stoole mi bicicleta.” I had no idea what that meant, but the way they looked at me and started running/riding toward me, I knew it wasn’t good. I took off like a shot, with about six of them right on my trail. I guess my reflexes or my legs were too slow, because they caught me pretty much immediately. After about 20 blows to the head and body, they finally wrestled my bike away from me and were gone. As theywere leaving I heard one of them laughingly yell, “Welcome to the hood, white boy!” That was when it really hit me that “I wasn’t in Kentucky anymore.”
That day really was the beginning. I got beat up alot more in the next few years. I also went through about 5 more bikes in the next 4 years. It got to where I knew I was getting a new bike for Christmas every year, and so was some kid in the next neighborhood. MINE!

Tags: Add new tag, Baptist Church, Cholo, El Paso, TX.
Posted in Blogging Ventures, INTRO TO ME, Preachers Kid, Stories and tales | 5 Comments »

If any of you have sen my Squidoo page, then you have already read this story, but I wanted to share it with everyone, soooooo……………………………

First Day of School

Alright, before I start, I have to explain a couple of things. First of all I grew up in the south, actually in Southeast Arkansas, during the 70’s. My Dad was a Baptist preacher. I had never even met an African- American in person, although I had seen some in my trips to town. Yes, I was really in the boonies. And my whole life up to this point I had only heard them referred to as the “N” word. With all that being said, please don’t judge me on this story. I was, as you will be able to tell, always a little different than my ignorant surroundings. So, with all that being said, I present my first day in kindergarten…….
So I got to school on my first day and in my small kindergarten class there were about 15 students. Only one of them, because of where we lived, was black. I still remember him like it was yesterday even though it was over 30 years ago. His name was Dell, he was funny, always smiling, and we hit it off immediately. We played together at recess, ate lunch together, and even attempted to take our naps right next to each other. Well, after nap-time, we were given our first real assignment.
See, I was really excited. My Mamaw was a kindergarten teacher in another town, and my mom was a stay-at-home mother, who was also a good teacher. So, by the time I had started kindergarten, I was already reading on a 3rd grade level, and could write pretty well as well. This was my chance to really show off to the teacher who still had no idea about my talents.
She handed out a picture for us to color. It was a picture of a boy playing with some toys. I was going to color the bestest picture ever. In honor of my new friend I decided to color the boy black. Actually, I decided to use brown to make it more authentic. I really took my time and colored in the lines,and when I was finished I was really proud of my masterpiece.But even in my 5 year old mind, I realized that coloring the boy brown may not be acceptable, so I felt it needed an explanation. Lucky for me I could write, and it would give me an excuse to show off my writing skills. Soooo, on the top of the paper I wrote ” I LIKE NI!@#$” (yes the “N” word). I really didn’t know any better. But that’s not the bad part….. I spelled the “N” word correctly, but I spelled “LIKE” L-I-C-K. Yes, on my first day of school, I let it be known, that I licked African-Americans.
To make matters worse, I got a FROWNY-FACE on my first school project. I cried in class. My teacher told my father. My father whooped the crap outta me when I got home (with a belt, mind you). I was made to apologize to Dell. And all this just for trying to be a good dude.
AND THAT WRAPS UP MY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

Tags: First day of school
Posted in Preachers Kid, Stories and tales | 2 Comments »

I guess one of the most life-affecting things that has happened to me is my personal issue with “Criminal Identity Theft”. I need to go ahead and post this story because in one of my previous postings I had referred to my “handicap”, and I have had a few of my readers ask,”What exactly is your handicap?” This is not a physical handicap, but rather a handicap on my pursuit of happiness. So, I am posting this for a few reasons…….

1. To explain how “Criminal Identity Theft” can affect a persons life.

2. To hopefully attract interest in this story from influential people who can help me get my life back. (Attorneys, Media, Senators, Congress People, A.C.L.U., anybody who has not given me the chance to voice my situation)

I know that this story may not be as entertaining as others, but I am hoping it is informative. And that through this post, you the reader might take extra caution so as not to let this happen to you.

In Nov. of 1997 I had been hired as a Bar Manager for 3 bars at the Tigua Indian Reservation Casino just outside if El Paso, Tx. .On 12-1-1997, I was informed that they were going to have to “let me go” and withdraw their offer of employment due to some crimes showing up on my Criminal Background Check. They thought it was interesting that my CBC showed me as being currently incarcerated seeing as how I was standing there in front of them. They understood that it must be a mistake, they said that they really liked me and my work ethic, but all they could offer me was that if I got it all cleared up then I could re-apply after the standard 6 months that was part of their company policy. I was somewhat embarrassed, but I thanked them for their time and was on my way, very perplexed.

On 12-2-1997 I visited the El Paso Police Dept. to clear up the situation. After a fingerprint analysis I was informed that someone had used my ID at the time of their arrest. At that time Mr. Chavez(EPPD Records Dept.) showed me the mug shot of the person who had used my ID and asked if I knew the guy. I thought I recognized his face from the neighborhood and at Mr. Chavez’s desk I made a positive ID within 3 phone calls. I expressed my confusion to Mr. Chavez as to how this had happened. This guy looked nothing like me, was 4-6″ taller than me, and out-weighed me by about 40 lbs., and to top it all off I had been arrested in 1991 in El Paso, my hometown, for criminal trespassing. So they had my fingerprints and picture on file. He said he wasn’t sure how that could happen but that it would be all cleared up now. He thanked me for my time and help, then he gave me a signed and stamped letter stating that I had no record on file with the El Paso Police Dept.

Here is something reaaly interesting that I found out much later. Apparently, when this guy got arrested and gave them my name or ID, while being booked he refused to give them my personal info (because he didin’t know it). So the officers went back to my arrest sheet from 1991 (which was also a stupid arrest due to a couple of Hispanic cops wanting to mess with a White Boy,dismissed of course). They then pulled the info (Place of birth, SSN, Address, and other required info) and used that information to properly fill out their paperwork. On his arrest sheet, it lists him as 5′11′ and 155 lbs.. Which was my stats. While he was obviously well over 6′ and 220 lbs.. If that wasn’t a clue, then maybe the different fingerprints, or the different color eyes, different colored hair, or maybe the Mugshot picture, or maybe even the fact that the record they were pulling this info from was in 1991 which meant he would’ve been about 12-13, would’ve been some sort of clue. Those boys in blue sure pay atention to detail.

Embarrassed and then jobless, I decided to go back to Virginia Beach, Va. Where I had been stationed while I was enlisted in the USNAVY. So right after spending Christmas with the family I returned to VA. I made a few pit-stops along the way, working as a bartender in a couple of different cities, but eventually landed back here in Virginia Beach. After 2 months of trying to find a job here I found myself living on the streets. I did not put 2 and 2 together , I just assumed that for some reason or another I just wasn’t nailing my interviews, even though I had myself trained people on how to interview perspective employees. I had no reason to believe that these crimes were still on my record. Luckily I landed a job at a local bar and grill as a bartender and moved into a seedy pay- by-the-week hotel until I was able to get back on my feet. Which only took a couple of months. Thank God I am good with money.

It wasn’t until June of 2002 that I actually found out what was going on. I had been for years bartending, going to school, and searching for better employment to no avail. But in June I got a break, I had scored really high on the Postal Service entrance exam, plus I got 10 bonus points for being a Disabled Veteran and after an interview was eventually hired at the Post Office as a Carrier in Suffolk, Va.

I was ecstatic, to say the least. I put my house up for sale, quit my job, and was ready to move to Suffolk(about 45-50 miles away). On June 27 I was informed that these felonies were on my record and that he needed an explanation. I went there and hand- delivered the paperwork that Mr. Chavez had given me.I was told that the paperwork meant nothing to him, that it was the most absurd story he had ever heard, that he considered me dishonest for not putting these crimes on my application, and that he was withdrawing the offer of employment. I had already accepted a contract on my house, so….homeless again. Luckily I had already been approved for the loan for a new house so my wife and I decided to go ahead and sale our house and buy another, hoping something would come up. With what we made off of the house we were able to keep afloat for a few months. During this time, I had made a few phone calls but had been told that there was no way to get this off of my record, it would always be there. I got really depressed and dropped out of school, seeing as how I was going to school to be a teacher and there was no way I was ever going to get a teaching job with multiple felonies in my record, so what was the point really.

After that I took various bartending , waiting tables, and other under the table types of employment. Nothing satisfying or well paying to say the least, but it eliminated going through more embarrassing background checks. I grew up a preachers kid so the atmosphere of these bars didn’t really agree with my spirit anyway. At one particular bar that I worked at, I found out the owners daughter was an attorney. So I explained my situation to her and asked her for help. She said she couldn’t help but she would look into it. Eventually the owner used this information against me and pretty much had me black-balled from all bartending jobs in the area by calling the owners of other bars and telling them that I legally could not serve alcohol in the state of Va. because of my record. I felt hopeless I worked for a while as a repo-man, but because of my record I couldn’t get a weapons permit, and now with a little one at home it didn’t really seem like a good idea. My wife had been in a car accident and was unable to work for over a year because of her physical therapy appointments. So we were borrowing money from both of our families just to keep a roof over our heads. After we tapped out all of those resources we finally sold our house to avoid foreclosure. With the money we made off of the house and what my wife made off of her settlement we were able to pay back everybody we owed and just about break even.

Then things started to get interesting. I had taken a job delivering pizzas(no background check), and had worked my way up to a management offer, that did require a background check. Of course these charges came up again only this time it showed I was in prison for capitol murder. Apparently Mr. Jason Michael Newton had gotten out of jail and had killed someone, convicted under his own name, but because I was his ALIAS it also showed up on my CBC as well. That’s when I decided that enough was enough and I refused to be a victim anymore!!!!

I decided that I was going to spend every waking moment pushing to get this fixed. I started calling the records dept. in El Paso on a daily basis. Finally,after convincing her that I was not going away, I got a Ms. Daniels to put me in touch with the Senior Latent Fingerprint Examiner Mr. Bruce Orndorff.When I first told him my story he basically called me a liar until I sent him a copy of the documentation that I had received from Officer Chavez. He said that it was the wrong paperwork and that it had never been filed or recorded. He then had me send my fingerprints via the Norfolk Police Dept. Norfolk, Va. Then he sent me a letter  stating that those crimes were not mine. I thought it was over but not even close. Apparently in the Career world that piece of paperwork is just a red flag that the perspective employee has baggage. Also, I was once told that their insurance company would not let them hire me. I also found that in most cases there were other applicants that had no red flags or drama so the job went to the second best qualified. The only way to get past this was to get these charges completely off of my record. So I started a new mission.

First I got interviewed by the local news (WAVY10 on your side).They aired my story and did an investigative report(8-27-2006). I must say they made the EPPD look really stupid. But they ended the story by saying that the Attorney Generals office in Austin, Tx. Had looked into it and had said they would repair my record immediately. I was so excited, but when I (not an influential reporter) called to get everything fixed, they told me their hands were tied. Apparently to get an expongement necessitated a pardon from the governor, and in my situation I could not get a pardon because I had never committed a crime. Great! Gave up again, lost another house, same old same old. That’s when my sister got me in touch with BRIAN FALCO.

Brian Falco was a case worker at Identity Theft Solutions, based in California. He was the only caseworker that specialized in Criminal Identity Theft,pretty much in the whole USA. When he heard my case he said it was the perfect example of negligent Police Work and a records dept. that had no idea what they were doing so we had to go around them to get anywhere. Rejuvenated and with an ally, I started calling everyone I could think of, DPS, NCIC, the FBI(who by the way told me that the whole gov’t in the City of El Paso was under investigation for various corrupt acts) OOOPS did I say that? Eventually my contacts and referrals ended up full circle back to a Ms. Daniels in the record dept. of El Paso. When I called her she said that she did remember me and that nothing had changed and there was nothing she could do, and to STOP CALLING HER! Of course I didn’t stop and at one time she told me that she did sympathize but that I needed to take control of my life and drop it. To which I said, “When ya’ll relinquish control of my life I will take it right back.” I believe that got me a dial tone. Then Brian Falco called her and got a little farther. He finally got a contact by the name of Alfred Pineda who had just transferred there and was willing to help.

Al Pineda got me to send fingerprints again, and got an A.D.A. in El Paso by the name of Lisa Borden to take my case.(Of course with a lot of follow up from Brian and I).The first thing she did was get rid of the warrants, yes warrants for my arrest, in Texas. By the way all of my family lives in Tx. Where I couldn’t visit for fear of being arrested and held without bail on the account of being a flight risk. To make a really long story even shorter, eventually on Jan.30 2008( yes 10 years later) A judge in El Paso finally signed for the expongement of my record. The funny thing about all of that is that I was promised a copy of the expongement papers within 30 days. So after about 60 days Brian called Ms. Borden to find out where this paperwork is and when I would receive it. To which she replied we have no record of Mr. Shelby as far as we are concerned he never existed. So where did that leave me?

Well, apparently, it left me with an expongement (which just means that I was a Criminal that had gotten a pardon for Good Behaviour). The bad thing is that although my record had been legally exponged, it really did not mean anything. You see, there are thousands of little fly-by-night background check companies out there, and they work off of out-dated data-bases. I have even seen a CBC of mine come back with all of these crimes listed: 1.Evading Police. 2. Armed Robbery 3. Possesion of Stolen Vehicle 4. Possesion of Narcotics. 5.Capital Murder, and #6.Participation in Organized Criminal Activity. These are not only the convictions he got under my name, but also convictions under his own name that have been attatched to my Criminal Record because I am his Alias. I am told that  I could sue these background check companies, but they have so many disclaimers of how they are not responsible for what they report it is virtually impossible. I have found out that most of these CBC companies are owned by attorneys, who really know how to cover their tails.

So anyways, here’s where I stand today. After getting assigned another attorney with the Attorney General’s office in Austin,TX., we have been trying for months to get a copy of my expongement order that I can use to prove that these crimes are not mine (to CBC companies as well as perspective employers). Of coarse El Paso will not cooperate. After jumping through all of their hoops for the last few months, I finally finished the process of “correctly” requesting a copy of the order. I finally got a letter from the El Paso County Court Records Dept. stating that they have located the record and that I am welcome to “come pick it up” (yeah, right, I live on the East Coast). There are 2 conditions: I must give them 48 hrs. notice and I have to pick it up within 30 days of the day that the letter was written or the order would be destroyed. No problem. except that the letter was written on Dec.4th, but actually mailed on Dec. 17th, and I received it on Dec.22. Which means that the record will be “destroyed on Jan.3 according to the letter(that is today by the way),but their offices have been closed for the Holidays since Dec.23. How suspicious does that sound? My guess is that they don’t even have the paperwork, what would you think?

Here’s the kicker: Although I have every right to sue the crap out of El Paso County or the EPPD for all of their incompetence in this matter. I can not get an attorney to take the case because 1. I have to have an attorney licensed in the State ofTexas. 2. Even if I do, the County will claim “Sovereign Immunity” from such a lawsuit on the ground that none of my Civil Liberties have been violated.( I guess the right  to vote, the right to bear arms, and the right to the pursuit of happiness are no longer considered “Civil Liberties”.) And the only way to get past this is to get permission from the Governor of Texas to Civally Sue, and he has already stated through a liaison, that he does not wish to get involved.

To make matters even worse, the contacts in El Paso act like I should be Kissing their Royal Hineys due to the fact that they have finally fixed my situation legally. While here I am left with no legal documentation, and a crappy resume due to the lower-level jobs I have had to take due to these issues. So, if anybody has any ideas, any influential contacts, or any suggestions at all on what I should do next, please comment in the space provided below. But most importantly help me spread the word, tell everyone, forward this post to everybody you have contact with. Maybe eventually this post might save somebody years of trouble, and this story might just end up in the right hands. All I can say in words of advice, is that if you are innexplainably having problems finding employment or obtaining credit, do yourself a favor and get a Criminal Background Check done on yourself. If you are having a similar problem please feel free to contact me, I’ve been through the whole process. Believe me, I know what doesn’t work!



Click Here!   To get rid of ID Thieves FOREVER!!!!!!!!

Tags: Background Check, Criminal Background Check, Criminal Identity theft, Identity Theft
Posted in Criminal Identity theft | 10 Comments »

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Well, it’s finally 2009. I wish everyone of you a prosperous New Year. As some of you know, my goal this year is to post 365 stories on this website, and to attract 1,000,000 readers. Basically just to see if I can do it. I was trying to pick a story that was fitting for such a good day. New Years Day is almost magical. You get a clean slate, you get to start over, you get to make and often break resolutions. But, what New Years Day means to us guys, is FOOTBALL. I’m actually trying to watch the Capital One Bowl (MSU vs. UGA) and can’t wait for the PASADENA ROSE BOWL (USC vs. PSU). Which brings me to today’s topic FOOTBALL. Yes, “Broken Helmet” has earned the first story spot for the New Year. Not because it’s one of my better ones, that’s for sure, but because it’s kinda cute and it’s been on my mind all day. So, here we go……….

BROKEN HELMET

As you know from my intro/bio, my family and I lived in SE Arkansas during my early childhood years. And if you have read “Redneck Christmas” you know that for my 4th Christmas I got a plastic helmet/shoulder-pads set. Now, if you are from the South and from the Country, then you know what the biggest gathering of all the locals is…….That’s right, The Friday Night High-School Football Game. Oh, it is so much fun. You get to see all of your friends and relatives. You get to see a good game. More often than not you get to see grown men fight on the sidelines. It’s one heck of a slapper-dasher-sasher. Well this one particular Friday night my Daddy and I had traveled to another town to watch Rison High (Where my Dad was like a football God) play an away game.

As we were walking by the Field House, I heard something that sounded like thunder coming from the field-house. Apparently, the Home team (I can’t remember who it was) was getting hyped up by running into the walls. Seriously, I know it sounds funny, but they were. I could here them as I got closer. They were saying,”Down, Set, Hut” and then you would here them just crash the wall. I thought these guys must be the toughest guys on earth. I was impressed and a little intimidated for my beloved Rison High. These guys just sounded MEAN. I don’t remember much more of the night(I was only 4 or maybe 5) except that my Uncle got into a potential fight, and of course had to come get my Dad to back him up. I think my Dad (The Preacher) actually decked a guy, Rison won, then we drove the hour and a half trip home.

The next day is the real story here, if you want stories about my crazy father, they’re coming I’m sure. Anyways, Saturday afternoon we were of course watching our Razorback’s on TV. Half-time came, and I was bored , so I disappeared to my room. Then coming from my room was a sound that shook the trailer. My parents came back to check on me, and what they found was me, fully padded, backing up for another shot at my bedroom wall. I was into it man. I had my helmet on, pads on, and was copying what I had experienced the night before. “Down, Set, Hut” and another launch at the wall that impressively once again shook the whole trailer. My Dad, a little amused, but even more so irritated, said,” Boy, if you’re so tough. Why don’t you go on out there and tackle one of them there trees in the yard.” To his surprise, out the door I went.

I picked out the biggest Oak in the yard. Pulled down hard on my red, plastic, helmet with the plastic face-mask, and the Razorback logo on the side. I backed up about 20 feet. I got in my 3-point stance. I said it once again, “Down, Set, Hut!“, and I took off as fast as I could. I lowered my head and BAM!!!! About 30 seconds later I woke up to find my Dad literally rolling in the driveway with laughter, Mom was behind him with a sick, worried look on her face. I ripped off my helmet and inspected it. It was split right down the middle. I took the helmet in my hand, said,“You stupid Helmet!”, and threw it into the woods. Who knows it’s probably still there. I never picked it up again.

Don’t forget, for other stories visit these other sites HERE and HERE!

And for your free report on how to earn income by blogging CLICK HERE!!!

Tags: Arkansas, Broken Helmet, earn income blogging, Football, Razorbacks, Rison High School
Posted in Blogging Ventures, Preachers Kid, Stories and tales | 3 Comments »