Save Prison Inmate Charles Gundlah.

Help Us Assure That Charles Gundlahs Life Will Be Protected


Judging by detailed accounts received from inmate Charles Gundlah (#124520) who is presently incarcerated at Union Correctional Institution, Raiford, Florida, it appears that he is in grave danger of extensive physical and psychological abuse by staff and/or fellow inmates. This abuse could eventually lead to his ultimate death.
Gundlah has been labeled (fairly or unfairly) as an informer or snitch. He is also suing the State of Florida for one of two rapes that have occurred while in state custody. Gundlah's case has been accepted for trial by Floridas court system.

Mr Gundlahs real-world advocate, Sid Kleiner, has been relentlessly requesting both Vermont and Florida DOC authorities to move him into a safe, stress-free, non-abusive environment. His preference would be to go back to Vermont or be placed in federal custody.
( Mr Kleiner is the director and programs coordinator of Beth Tikvah Jewish Prisoner Outreach )

Mr. Gundlah has tried to reason with corrections authorities in Vermont and Florida, without measurable success. Agents from Floridas Inspector Generals office report that Mr. Gundlah has little to complain about when they visit with him. Sid Kleiner has explained to Inspector General Gerald H. Abdul-Wasi that Gundlah's silence or reticence is the result of ominous threats made by those who hold him in captivity. He cannot speak freely as long as he remains in their custody. At the time of this writing, Mr. Gundlah remains confined to a wheelchair with impaired vision, inability to walk, a cigarette-burn scar on the sole of his foot, and other signs of the use of excessive force by UCIs staff. He contends that a UCI staff nurses report as well as available videotapes, lend validity and credence to his allegations.

There currently exists an immediate and urgent need to move inmate Charles Gundlah to a secure, safe, abuse-free environment, preferably in Vermont as opposed to Florida.
His captors have indicated that they are able to render vengeance against Gundlah anywhere in the state of Florida.
It is believed that the threat against this inmates life is valid and should be taken with the utmost seriousness.

We are asking for your support and that you read the story below. An appropriate transfer for Charles Gundlah could translate into a life-saving, injury-preventing result for those who may have to follow in his footsteps.

***


1 A Message Is Received..

To: [email protected]

Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2004 9:19 PM

Subject: [florida_support] Urgent Request, Please


Hi Everyone!


I have recently become aware of this gentleman serving a life sentence at UCI, and although
I do not personally know him, from what I understand, he is a very lonely, sick, and isolated young man.


His birthday is in a few days, and he probably will receive no cards or words of encouragement unless
they come from those of us willing to reach out to him.


If any of you would please take a moment to drop a card or note to Charles, it would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks!!!

Dianne


***


2... Because I am a member of the group and because this other member was thoughtful enough to post the above message on the board, I went browsing on the Internet to read more about Charles Gundlah, the
'very lonely, sick, and isolated young man.'

I found an article written by him describing the almost unbelievable treatment he has been experiencing.

It seems he was originally incarcerated in Vermont but, after testifying in a case where an inmate was accidently killed by a prison guard, he was transferred to Florida.

In the article he wrote : (excerpt)..

..."An officer I had come to know and respect warned me that "they" would be paying me back for my being so outspoken. I thought little of his warning until only a month before my mother was to come and visit me for the first time in over a decade, I was sent to the Florida Department of Corrections against my will. The people responsible were completely aware that placing me in such an overwhelmingly violent and out of control prison system would have an adverse effect on my safety."

The article continues..

"The second night, three or perhaps four black inmates attacked me in my sleep, intent on defiling me. Some Aryan brotherhood members stopped them, only to ask for money the next day. Everywhere I went
I was told how good I looked. The constant predators were ever-present, mainly in the form of black men.
I was robbed again and again. I complained, I wrote letters, I even began seeing a psychologist, yet no one seemed to care. Instead of a name I was now a number. And since nothing had actually happened to me,
it wasn't important.

I resorted to paying a hulking black inmate to keep the dogs at bay. When I had no more money, the dogs came again ---spying me out, using numerous tactics to try to get what they wanted. What they wanted was abhorrent and immoral. I remained afraid, with no one to help me. Then I met an old-timer who told he would help me. All I had to do was file a paper in court and turn myself into security as a protective case, which would mean loss of privileges. But only days before he had a chance to file for injunctive relief in court, I was brutally assaulted by three black inmates after being choked unconscious again and again.

A week later I was in disciplinary confinement for allegedly possessing escape paraphernalia. A book I had been writing about corruption in the Florida D.O.C. had sketches in it that were labeled as escape paraphernalia. My transcripts were stolen by the state assistant inspector. Florida prison staff's reaction to my traumatic ordeal was
to cover up what happened to me. My family, who had been supporting me, didn't know how to react to such news, and have since then had no contact with me. Things were done against procedures, and I didn't know what to do. I was placed into close management unjustifiably. Sexual predators were prevalent everywhere I went, and I was a prime target. I saw how deeply corrupt Florida prison staff were, and spent all my time trying to expose these untouchables.
Vermont's Department of Corrections' authorities contacted me by letter about this time (2001) claiming, "The original intent of your placement...was to...offer you a greatly enhanced and more humane
correctional experience than can be found within the Vermont system." Also adding that they felt Florida would offer more in regards to programming, education, etc. The truth (and I know this from experience) is that the Vermont Department of Corrections is more humane (by far), and offers more to any offender it houses. To say otherwise is an irrational non-sequitar. My complaints caused more hostility than I had counted upon.

While I was in protective management status, a vendetta took the form of an officer placing a known violent sexual predator into my cell. I was, for a second time in my life, overpowered and immorally humiliated.
Further covering up ensued. I was totally incensed with rage about this blatant act of inhumane treatment. I began court proceedings as soon as I knew how. My continued and adamant stance against corruption made prison staff angry toward me. A while later, I was assaulted by an outraged officer.

Charles H. Gundlah, #124520
R-1206
Florida State Prison
7819 NW 228th Street
Raiford, FL 32026-2600

Permission to publish this personal account and plea is hereby granted by the author.


NOTE : To add credence to Mr Gundlah's complaints I am posting the url to an article I came across in Death Penalty News And Updates. It was printed by the Florida Times-Union in 2001 and tells of another inmate who requested to be transferred out of Florida. I have had a reply from the newspaper which gives me a little hope.
Ann Ezelius / Sweden

http://prisonpotpourri.com/PRISONPOTPOURRI_FORUM/viewtopic.php?t=630