Part 2: Acknowledgments - The Cell Next Door

Acknowledgments

I've been hated by so many people, and I am thankful for such support.  I have been backstabbed, and it feels good.  And I have been kicked while I was down, and I love it.  This one is for the intelligent and ignorant alike without favoritism.  For everyone that wished me the best, this is for you.  For the ones that prayed for my downfall, this is for you.  For the ones that love me when I could do something for them, but their loyalties switched the moment I was not able, this one is definitely for you.  Most importantly, for the ones that have followed this case and kept asking me for this story.  Finally, this is for you. 

Humbly yours,

Dylan Tallman

INTRODUCTION

"My body was in chains; however, my spirit was free.  11 years of my adult life, I had spent incarcerated.  I was not able to master it until I understood the scripture in my heart.  I was stuck in the system.  I was at the beginning of my turning point and onto a new and productive path.  However, it didn't matter because the courts wanted me in prison for as long as possible, even on the pettiest charges.  I never caught a break. 

I was a known drug dealer, a cancer to society.  I had stopped worrying about whether people on the outside cared about me.  I let them cut ties with me.  I had to work on myself.  I thought if I improved myself and my life, then I would make an improvement to other people.  Next time, they wouldn't be so quick to judge.  Hopefully, there won’t be a next time.  Educating myself was mostly all I did in prison, and I also spent time working out.  Therefore, nothing could ever hurt me again, not mentally or physically.  I was at the bottom, but my vision was making it to the top, so I stayed productive. 

I spent my entire adult life in prison.  I needed to prepare myself so I could get out and start over.  I knew nothing of the normal adult life, nothing of the civilized life.  All I had experienced was the way of the streets, running at a bag up and surviving in prison.  I was still in Dodge Correctional Institution on a PO hold. Wisconsin parole and probation were holding me in a prison, though I was not yet sentenced to prison.  They had me right where they wanted me.  It was a terrible feeling to be in that situation. 

I was currently working on a book series with Chris.  It was our God's Plan series.  We had created a series of spiritual books.  Chris and I had an outlet where we could vent through scriptures, saying things that are not revealed and interpreting the word of God.  Chris and I were making progress working on our cases.  In my case, possession with intent, the police never field tested what they identified as ecstasy. 

In his case, things were very complicated.  He had confessed three different times in three different ways.  However, the trauma from the tragedy brought him fear just to talk about it.  We were slowly progressing in everything we did.  Spiritually, workouts, our cases, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding.  Utilizing our time by staying productive while imprisoned was actually a good use of time.  Chris and I had just had a conversation about his case and things were dicey. 

Over 50% of inmates are convicted, and the courts do not have 75% of the facts of their cases.  Nowadays, 90% of criminal convictions are resolved by plea deals.  Chris took a plea only a few months after his arrest.  Usually, these types of cases take years to resolve, especially when an entire family is murdered.