by Jason Renard Walker

Introduction

In her book “True Crime File,” Kim Daly revisits how normal seeming humans often engage in perversions in which sexual gratification is achieved by inflicting mental or physical pain on others and sometimes on themselves.

In the clinical sense, these individuals are labeled as sadists or sadomasochistic. The only symptom that is obvious is the aftermath of their skewed endeavors to “get off.” And even then, through terrible oversight and luck, they have a tendency to evade detection for years before the public learns who they’re really living next door to.

These individuals are usually married, respected in their community and have decent jobs. Which serves as the basis for their community and loved ones being clueless.

But beyond the naked eye, it takes a lot more than the endemic lifestyle their engagings warrant to “get off.”

And I must mention that medical staff concealing Comrade Kevin Rashid Johnson’s prostate cancer diagnosis at Virginia’s Nottoway Correctional Center (NCC) is just one example of the SBM games such individuals have to play for temporary satisfaction. See “My cancer diagnosis and the disease of denied prison medical care” by Kevin “Rashid” Johnson.

The ongoing psychological torture and harassment facing Britney Gulley and the women at Lane Murray Unit in Texas is simply another example. See “In Texas, solitary confinement is the new Jim Crow” by Britney Gulley.

And the following, here at Connally Unit, is no different.

Human battering rams

Jeramey Josef Hernandez is a 30-year-old prisoner who has been housed at Connally Unit since 2020.

In the summer, on June 5, 2021, Hernandez learned by experience the horrors of requesting access to respite. After making a failed effort to explain the “respite training and education” rules to the 4 Building desk officer, C. Becerra – she only allows 15 minutes – she became fed up and documented that he used his 15 minutes, though he never had a chance.

This ultimately can explain why most occupations that are institutional based – like prisons, psych wards, nursing homes, hospitals and day care centers – are often hubs for abuse.

Under this pretext, Becerra was well aware that Hernandez’ refusal to walk away and accept outright being denied access to respite was grounds to write a disciplinary or call ranking staff. His complaint concerned being offered a 15 minute stay.

Hernandez was handcuffed and taken to the 10 Building infirmary for his pre-hearing detention (PHD) physical. He was being placed in 12 Building’s lockup. Becerra wrote him bogus disciplinaries for threatening an officer and refusing to obey an order. Cross out cases!

I must mention that such cases, following and in response to a prisoner being denied respite, is a warden approved statewide practice, one I wrote extensively about during my stay at Allred Unit in 2019. Listen to https://www.prisonradio.org/commentary/retaliation/, the audio version to this written report. Its design is to discourage prisoners from utilizing respite areas.

While Hernandez was being held in the infirmary’s holding cage, Capt. M. Maldonado (then Lt. Maldonado) threatened to gas him – after the handheld camera was turned off – stating, “Keep that energy. You’re in my building.”

Capt. B. Guardiola upheld Maldonado’s sadism when Hernandez complained about this to her. “I don’t wanna hear it. This her show. Shouldn’t been running yo’ mouth, “ Guardiola replied.

Hernandez was re-handcuffed and removed from the case. Due to dizziness, Hernandez fell to his knees. A Hispanic sergeant bulldozed him and rammed his face into the ground, breaking several teeth.

Hernandez was written more disciplinaries for causing a disturbance, though Hernandez’ only issue was accessing respite for his heat sensitivities from psychotropic medication that he takes – 200 mg of Zoloft daily.

On July 14, 2022, an inmate by the name of Bustamonte was used as a human battering ram. According to Sgt. (last name pronounced “far rick”), a guard deliberately grabbed Bustamonte and rammed his head into the wall during a use of force on 8 Building L Pod. The assault was unrelated to institutional or security needs.

Bustamonte had borrowed food items from others then attempted to get himself locked up to avoid the debt. Ranking guards had no interest in assisting him. He opportunistically put himself in a use of force so that there was no choice but to lock him up.

This not only frustrated those who were nice enough to loan on a short budget but guards who anticipated a beat down when Bustamonte returned. 

Conclusion

Guards such as those at the Connally Unit only exist because institutions they can get their rocks off in exist.

Outside of the razor wire fence and bricks that block public scrutiny, environmental factors inside the prison encourage them.

“Blind spots” in the infirmary instigate their need to assault, while the “protect our own” culture only keeps them thirsty for more. And post-incident promotions serve as a proverbial slap on the back to keep up the good work.

Until the prisoners themselves unite against such vileness that affects us all, the evils of TDCJ will continue to torture and slither away into the night.

Call for action

Readers, please contact the warden’s office and file Ombudsman complaints for the following reasons:

1.  Prisoners on 8 Building J Pod – possibly the whole building – are being denied access to respite and outside recreation. What they’re doing is giving us two hours of day room time at 6:00 a.m. The rest of the day we remain in hot cells. We are fed all three meals in our cells; medication is given to us in our cell.

In contradiction, this is the only unit in Texas where medium custody prisoners don’t get their medication, walk to the dining hall, have outside recreation on top of day room, or get to attend religious services and education classes. If you can, ask the warden if these denials are TDCJ rules. Though he will lie. This isn’t TDCJ policy. It’s vindictive punishment.

I am on recreation restriction. When complaining about that issue, complain in regards to “those not on rec restriction.”

2.  Force Connally Unit 8 building ranking officers to comply with state law and post “respite training and education” rules in every pod and section on 8 Building. This allows prisoners to read the rules and see they have a right to respite and how to receive it. Let them know that we can’t come out of our cell except for two hours and we don’t have access to the front desk. They may sneak and post them there.

If they claim we are getting respite, ask them how much time we are given. There is no time limit.

Dare to Struggle, Dare to Win!

All Power to the People!

Send our brother some love and light: Jason Renard Walker, 1532092, Connally Unit, 899 FM 632, Kenedy, TX 78119.