Letter from Attorney Margaret Gondleman Gold
to Secretary Michael Moore

MARGARET GONDLEMAN GOLD
ATTORNEY AND COUNSELOR AT LAW
1448 Shady Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA  15217
412-721-3844

19 January 2001

Mr. Michael Moore, Secretary
Department of Corrections
2601 Blairstone Road
Tallahassee, Florida  32399-2500

            Re: Ronald C. Ashcraft, #489677  D21228, now at Okeechobee

Dear Sir:

You have received correspondence from me in November, concerning the threats against my client's life and the likelihood of a severe beating at the hands of Officer Coleman in his unit.  For reasons explained below, Mr. Ashcraft has requested me to inform you of his decision that, in order to survive his term in the DOC system, he must return to the Protective Management Unit at Martin Correctional Institution.

My letters to you, Warden Prevatt and others, dated November 16, 2000, resulted in an investigation of the matter and Mr. Ashcraft was eventually interviewed by a sympathetic woman officer who suggested he would be transferred to another prison, but there has been no further action on that suggestion.  Quite the contrary.

Officer Coleman has, since then, succeeded in planting a knife in the cell of a friend of Mr. Ashcraft and gotten the friend into confinement, followed by nods and winks at Mr. Ashcraft to let him know this will yet happen to him.  The friend, Rexford Tweed, #116365  E1213, is now getting only one meal a day, under the orders of Officer Coleman, who now works in the confinement area.

On December 18, Mr. Ashcraft was called to speak with Lieutenant Loeb.  The lieutenant said "they" had received directions from Tallahassee to bring my client to him personally to see if my client has been physically abused.  He stated that there had been no physical abuse, but that Officer Coleman and his cohorts continue to glare at him and that Coleman (at that time) was working in his (Ashcraft's) building.

The lieutenant stated that correctional officers have rights.  Mr. Ashcraft responded that Chapter 33 of the Florida Administrative Code contains rules which prohibit the actions of Officers Coleman and Dennis.  The lieutenant then informed Mr. Ashcraft that all he could expect would be for Coleman to receive a slap on the wrist, even if Mr. Ashcraft does receive a beating.  He noted, too, that there had been word from the Governor's office, a Congressman's office and Tallahassee, and therefore my client would not be bothered.  The lieutenant went on to note that, "after the heat dies down, it might be another story."

Mr. Ashcraft says that ever since he left the Protective Management Unit at Martin in June, 1998, he has been an open target for anyone in a brown uniform.  With Coleman's pressure, he realizes it is never going to get easier.  He had another mild angina the night of December 18 from the stress and pressure of looking over his shoulder 24 hours a day.

He writes that if he asked for protective management at Okeechobee, he would be off to confinement in a matter of seconds - which is what "they" want and he fears.  So Mr. Ashcraft asks that I write you and the Inspector General of his decision to request transfer to Protective Management.

I pray you will grant this request and get Mr. Ashcraft out of his no-win situation at Okeechobee.  Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

Sincerely,

____________
Margaret Gondleman Gold

A similar letter is directed to the DOC Inspector General.

P.S.  I sent this letter in draft to Mr. Ashcraft on December 29 for his editing and approval.  He never received that letter.  I sent it again, by Express Mail to Mr. Ashcraft on January 12.  He received the letter January 18 - opened and read.  In addition to threatening a beating which could take Mr. Ashcraft's life, the prison is interfering with his legal mail.

I ask that you take immediate steps to transfer my client to Protective Management.