In 2014, I was arrested for possession of almost 8 oz of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and conspiracy charges. Over the next almost 2 years, I was in and out of courtrooms and treatment centers while awaiting sentencing.I was too scared to continue dealing, but I couldn't stop getting high, so I ended up using up every resource, calling in credit off the streets and eventually selling all my own personal belongings for my next fix. I lost multiple friends during this time to overdose, and I lost visitation to my youngest son.
I lost my dignity and all hope. I isolated and lived in a meth induced psychosis almost constantly. While I did finally surrender to a recovery program in early 2016, I found a passion for service. With sentencing coming up fast, I asked at my meetings if anybody would be willing to write character references for me. 3 people gave me letters that I gave to my public defender for the judge. On my sentencing day, the judge was over 20 minutes late coming out to the bench. I was fully prepared to go to prison, scared shitless, and the suspense was literally killing me! When she did come out, she had a fistful of 13 letters in her hand.
With tears in her eyes, she proceeded to tell me that she was not going to send me to prison because of all the good I was doing for the community. And that I just needed to keep doing what I was doing. She gave me a downward departure, which meant that if I messed up one time before I was off paper, I would go to prison for the full sentence, which was almost 10 years. She believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. I didn't squander the opportunity. Coming full circle in this photo, as she came to visit during the soft opening for the Recovery Cafe Anoka County, and is spreading the news to her peers at work about what we're doing at the cafe. The Lord works in mysterious ways, and He worked a miracle in my life through this woman on that sentencing day. Thank you, Judge Street!❤️
Thank you for believing in me!
Jason Rudeen- Founding Board Member
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