Reginald “Neli” Latson, is a 20 year-old autistic young man, who on the morning of May 24, 2010, sat in the grass outside the local library with a hoodie on waiting for the library to open. What happened next landed then 18 year-old Reginald “Neli” Latson in jail for one year awaiting a trial without bond. During that jail time, Neli spent eight straight months isolation.
For those of you who followed the story of Neli Latson of Stafford, Virginia last spring: after 8 1/2 months, he was released from prison on Monday. This morning he is waking up at his new school. Neli, who has a diagnosis of Asperger’s, will receive excellent intervention and support . . . thanks to the many hundreds of hours of hard work that volunteers in our community spent negotiating, wheedling, and praying for this young man.
URGENT UPDATE:
Lisa Alexander, mother of Neli Latson, was convicted on 1/10/2012 of misdemeanor charges that for many would have resulted in little to no jail time. However, supporters were stunned that the trial concluded with Lisa being taken away as a prisoner to be incarcerated for one year, which was later shortened to six months.
Lisa Alexander is an 11 year military veteran with no prior criminal history. She left the military to dedicate her life to her children and to especially build a stable life for her autistic son, Neli. Neli was racially profiled, thrown in jail, and unjustly convicted in May, 2010 at the hands of the same DA’s office that prosecuted her. Lisa has been tirelessly advocating for Neli and the only constant throughout his terrifying ordeal has been his mother’s voice by telephone each day and their weekly visits. She is her son’s coping mechanism and is absolutely vital to him.
A number of Neli’s supporters believe that the incarceration of Lisa Alexander is in direct retaliation for her efforts to speak out against the corruption in Stafford County and her fight to have her son released to a facility capable of addressing his autism. Her internet campaign to win supporters to her son’s cause was even mentioned by the prosecution during the course of the trial!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ola Jackson, Spokesperson, A Voice for Neli
540-425-0813
avoiceforneli@yahoo.com
IMMEDIATE RELEASE SOUGHT FOR WRONGFULLY IMPRISONED AUTISTIC YOUTH
Stafford, VA – 07/10/2011 – A Voice for Neli – a grassroots advocacy group formed to bring awareness to the plight of Reginald “Neli” Latson, an autistic teen the group contends was wrongly convicted and sentenced to serve time in a Virginia state penitentiary – is urging Gov. Bob McDonnell to pardon the youth.
MONDAY AUGUST 15 — CALL-IN/FAX-IN FOR NELI LATSON!
CONTACT INFO:
GOV. BOB MCDONNELL
PHONE: (804) 786-2211
FAX: (804) 371-6351
We are calling on all supporters of Neli Latson, wrongfully convicted autistic youth, to please participate in a mass call-in/fax-in to the governor’s office on MONDAY, AUGUST 15 and stress as many of the following points as possible:
