Free Mitchell Smiley

[jean bennett]

I am writing to bring to your attention the plight of Mitchell Smiley,
C12578, incarcerated at Cal. St. Prison, Lancaster Calif. Mitch has
been in prison since 1979, when at age 17 he was arrested along with two
other men for the murder of Carlos Gonzales, in El Cajon, California.
Mr. Gonzales came into a small beer bar in El Cajon late in the Sunday
afternoon in April 1979, made some derogatory remarks to a Lyle Hood
about Mr. Gonzales being a member of an outlaw motorcycle club, the
Axemen. Mr. Gonzales took exception to something Mr. Hood said, smashed
a beer mug on the bar, and shoved it into Mr. Hoods face. He knocked
Mr. Hood to the floor, beating him with the mug and his fist, and they
rolled out the door onto the sidewalk. Mr. Smiley, 17 years old and big
for his age saw that Hood was about to be murdered if something wasn't
done, stepped in, pulled at Gonzales, couldn't stop the fight, kicked
Gonzales in the side, and against the head, and pulled Hood out from
under Gonzales. At this point a Mr. Bretches whose best friend had been
murdered by Axemen a few months earlier, stepped in with a knife he had
on his person, stabbed Gonzales several times, and killed him. Hood and
Smiley had already backed off the fight and returned to inside the bar
when the stabbing was taking place. Mr. Smiley did not know Gonzales or
Bretches. All three men were arrested and charged with 2d degree
murder. Mr. Smiley and Hood for aiding and abetting with malicious
intentions, and Bretches for the actual stabbing. All three men were
convicted of 2d degree murder. In Calif. that meant a 15 to life
sentence for Mr. Smiley. That "life" is turning out to be just that.
For being at the scene of a crime, for trying to break up a fight that
was escalating out of control, Mitchell Smiley is still in prison. He
was 17 when he was arrested. He is now 38. We are asking that people
write to the following address and express their opinion that Mr. Smiley
should be released from prison. I can send you a resume showing all of
Mr. Smiley's accomplishments while in prison; his education, work
history, etc. I can be reached at c12...@yahoo.com. Any letters of
support for Mr. Smiley should be sent to: CCI Frasure, Counselor,
CSP-LAC BLDG 5, 44750 60TH ST. WEST, LANCASTER CA 93536, re: Mitchell
Smiley Parole C12578. Thank you for your support. We have 80 prayer
groups around the world praying for Mitch's freedom. We hope you will
consider helping us out. With faith and sincere thanks. Jean Bennett
Smiley (mother of Mitchell Smiley)